He's_the_DJ,_I'm_the_Rapper
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
1988 studio album by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (also known as I'm the Rapper, He's the DJ due to the way the title is printed) is the second studio album by American hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was the first double album in hip hop music, and was the eighth rap album to become a platinum album.[6]
| He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 29, 1988[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 72:19 (CD) 85:10 (vinyl and cassette) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince chronology | ||||
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| Singles from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [2] |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide | B−[3] |
| Pitchfork | 7.2/10[4] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4/5[5] |
The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 1, 1995,[7] and is the duo's most successful album. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.
The album's first single, "Brand New Funk", was only released promotionally and, thus, failed to achieve any commercial success. However, the album's second single, "Parents Just Don't Understand", won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[8] Although the album's third single, "Nightmare on My Street", which reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, was considered for inclusion in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, the producers of the film decided against its inclusion. As a result, later vinyl pressings of the album contain a disclaimer sticker that says, "[This song] is not part of the soundtrack...and is not authorized, licensed, or affiliated with the Nightmare on Elm Street films."
Original vinyl and cassette release
While released as a double album, Sides C and D were labeled as "Bonus Scratch Album."
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Nightmare on My Street" |
| 6:08 |
| 2. | "Here We Go Again" |
| 4:01 |
| 3. | "Brand New Funk" |
| 4:04 |
| 4. | "Time to Chill" |
| 4:25 |
| 5. | "Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)" |
| 4:46 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "As We Go" |
| 6:00 |
| 7. | "Parents Just Don't Understand" |
| 5:35 |
| 8. | "Pump Up the Bass" |
| 5:13 |
| 9. | "Let's Get Busy, Baby" |
| 4:06 |
| 10. | "Another Special Announcement" |
| 2:12 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Live at Union Square, November 1986 (Live)" | Townes | 4:07 |
| 12. | "D.J. on the Wheels" | Townes | 3:36 |
| 13. | "My Buddy" |
| 3:40 |
| 14. | "Rhythm Trax-House Party Style" |
| 4:39 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper" |
| 6:10 |
| 16. | "Hip Hop Dancer's Theme" | Townes | 3:48 |
| 17. | "Jazzy's in the House" | Townes | 4:10 |
| 18. | "Human Video Game" |
| 5:40 |
Original CD release
On the original CD, "Nightmare on My Street", "As We Go", "D.J. on the Wheels," and the final four songs appeared in edited form, and "Another Special Announcement" was omitted. A German edition omitted "Jazzy's in the House" and "Human Video Game" instead. On September 8, 2017, the full vinyl version was finally issued as a double CD set that was released by Real Gone Music under license from Sony Music Entertainment with bonus tracks.[9]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nightmare on My Street" | 4:56 |
| 2. | "Here We Go Again" | 4:01 |
| 3. | "Brand New Funk" | 4:04 |
| 4. | "Time to Chill" | 4:25 |
| 5. | "Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)" | 4:46 |
| 6. | "As We Go" | 5:35 |
| 7. | "Parents Just Don't Understand" | 5:15 |
| 8. | "Pump Up the Bass" | 5:13 |
| 9. | "Let's Get Busy, Baby" | 4:06 |
| 10. | "Live at Union Square (November 1986)" | 4:07 |
| 11. | "D.J. on the Wheels" | 2:44 |
| 12. | "My Buddy" | 3:40 |
| 13. | "Rhythm Trax (House Party Style)" | 4:39 |
| 14. | "He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper" | 4:57 |
| 15. | "Hip Hop Dancer's Theme" | 2:55 |
| 16. | "Jazzy's in the House" | 3:01 |
| 17. | "Human Video Game" | 4:14 |
| Total length: | 72:19 | |
- "A Nightmare on My Street"
- Theme from A Nightmare on Elm Street by Charles Bernstein
- "Here We Go Again"
- "Brand New Funk"
- "Bouncy Lady" by Pleasure
- "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown
- "I Can't Live Without My Radio" by LL Cool J
- "(Fallin' Like) Dominoes" by Donald Byrd
- "As We Go"
- "Parents Just Don't Understand"
- "Won't You Be My Friend" by Peter Frampton
- "Pump Up The Bass"
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Let's Get Busy, Baby"
- "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder
- "Time To Chill"
- "Breezin'" by George Benson
- "He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"
- "Live At Union Square (November 1986)"
- "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn
- "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band
- "Dance To The Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly and Life
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[17] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[18] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
- Christgau, Robert (29 March 1988). "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- Greene, Jayson. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- RIAA Searchable Database - "DJ Jazzy Jeff". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed November 10, 2008.
- Huff, Quentin B. (June 20, 2006). The Globalization of Beats & Rhymes. PopMatters. Accessed November 9, 2008.
- "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 48 (26). October 15, 1988. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- "Charts.nz – DJ Jazzy Jeff – He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- "DJ Jazzy Jeff | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- "D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- "D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- "1988 The Year in Music & Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-24. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.