DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince are teaming up for another hoorah. Rekindling their musical chemistry of the 80’s and 90’s for this present wave of music, the dynamic duo hinted at a set of fresh tunes and a possible tour.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jazzy Jeff provided a few details on their latest collaboration, even revealing that Will recorded a verse to Kanye West’s hit track “Clique” but didn’t release it. “He rapped it for me and it was huge,” the famed DJ said. “And I looked at him and said, ‘Why didn’t you put that out?’ And he just looked at me. I’m like, ‘Wait, you wrote an incredible verse off of a really popular song. That is what they do! Just drop it!’ But he just sat on it.”
This news arrives 22 years after the duo released their final album, Code Red, and made the decision to pursue separate ventures. Now, the world can hopefully bask in their genius one more time.
Check out a few excerpts below:
On whether there’s a date set for the new music’s release:
“Not yet. I know just with the schedules, it will be in sections. It could be any time like, I’m home for two weeks and we’re going to get together and do something. That could really start off with me sending him something and him recording it and then us getting together. But the only way that I will [record the finished track] is if we are in the studio together. That’s how it’s always been. I’m not worried about me at all. I think the beauty of it is that he started it, and he’s ready to go.”
On the possibility of a tour:
“I don’t know. What I tell people is, “If Will says, ‘Listen, we’re going on tour,’ we’re going on tour.” That’s my partner. Anytime he needs me, I’m there. If it’s like, “Yo, we’re out,” we’re out. Let me know so I can make some arrangements and we’re gone.”
On returning to the music with Will:
“Let me put it like this: You don’t retire from an art. This has always been inside of him and he’s always wanted to do this. He has never stopped rapping. It’s just that being the biggest movie star on the planet, you don’t have enough time. There has never been a time that he didn’t jump on my microphone when we’re together, because that is in his blood. You think you’re going to be around a basketball court with Michael Jordan and he is not going to shoot? That’ll never happen! I’m just happy that he’s at the point where he’s like, “You know what? I really want to do this.” And the whole idea is he realizes he wants to have fun. I can tell the level of enjoyment he has from doing it.”
Read the entire interview here.