DJ Jazzy Jeff

You'd be hard-pressed to find a top ten hip-hop DJs of all time list that doesn't include DJ Jazzy Jeff. He might have been made famous with his crossover (meaning white moms and 12 year olds dig it) songs with the Fresh Prince, but anyone looking for action knew to skip the pop confectioneries and go directly to "Live at Union Square" to hear the sound of two fierce and hungry talents, one on the mic and one on the decks, tearing through cuts back when hip-hop was an uprising rather than lording prince of pop music. This first official mix by DJ Jazzy Jeff serves up almost two dozen select choices of early-'90s hip-hop from East Coast establishment Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest, and Pete Rock, along with West Coast luminaries the Pharcyde and Cypress Hill, while younger craftsmen, including Jaylib and J-Live, keep things fresh. But beyond the sophisticated yet populist selections, the real excitement comes from Jeff's vintage and masterful scratching, which keeps things hype, while the actual tempo and volume stay deep in the pocket. With nothing left to prove, Jeff is left to do what he does best, moving heads and feet with two turntables and a stack of records. Let the DJ be the DJ. [Rapster also released a limited edition in 2004 that included a bonus disc.] ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide