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He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

| type = studio

| artist = DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

| cover = He's the DJ.jpg

| alt =

| released = March 29, 1988[http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=DJ%20Jazzy%20Jeff&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25] Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed March 29, 2015.

| recorded = 1987

| studio = *Battery, London, UK

  • Studio 4, Philadelphia

| genre = Hip hop

| length = 72:19 (CD)
85:10 (vinyl and cassette)

| label = {{flatlist|

| producer = {{hlist|DJ Jazzy Jeff|The Fresh Prince|Pete "Q" Harris|Bryan "Chuck" New}}

| prev_title = Rock the House

| prev_year = 1987

| next_title = And in This Corner...

| next_year = 1989

| misc = {{Singles

| name = He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

| type = Studio

| single1 = Brand New Funk

| single1date = December 2, 1987

| single2 = Parents Just Don't Understand

| single2date = February 17, 1988

| single3 = A Nightmare on My Street

| single3date = August 1, 1988

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r27779|pure_url=yes}} link]

| rev2 = Christgau's Consumer Guide

| rev2score = B−{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=364 |title=DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince |publisher=Robert Christgau |date= 29 March 1988 |accessdate=4 October 2017}}

| rev3 = Pitchfork

| rev3score = 7.2/10{{cite web |last=Greene |first=Jayson |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/dj-jazzy-jeff-and-the-fresh-prince-hes-the-dj-im-the-rapper/ |title=DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper |publisher=Pitchfork Media |accessdate=4 October 2017}}

| rev4 = Sputnikmusic

| rev4Score = 4/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/8115/DJ-Jazzy-Jeff-and-the-Fresh-Prince-Hes-the-DJ,-Im-the-Rapper/|title=DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (album review ) - Sputnikmusic|website=www.sputnikmusic.com}}

}}

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.{{Cite book |last=LLC |first=SPIN Media |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&pg=PA152 |title=SPIN |date=December 1999 |publisher=SPIN Media LLC |language=en}}

The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 1, 1995,[http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=DJ%20Jazzy%20Jeff&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Searchable Database - "DJ Jazzy Jeff"]. Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed November 10, 2008. 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.

Singles

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 at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.Huff, Quentin B. (June 20, 2006). [http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/060620-djjazzyjeff.shtml The Globalization of Beats & Rhymes]. PopMatters. Accessed November 9, 2008. 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."

Track listings

=Original vinyl and cassette release=

While released as a double album, Sides C and D were labeled as "Bonus Scratch Album."

{{Track listing

| headline = Side A

| title1 = A Nightmare on My Street

| writer1 = {{hlist|Will Smith|Jeffrey Townes|Pete Harris}}

| length1 = 6:08

| title2 = Here We Go Again

| writer2 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes|Harris}}

| length2 = 4:01

| title3 = Brand New Funk

| writer3 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length3 = 4:04

| title4 = Time to Chill

| writer4 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length4 = 4:25

| title5 = Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)

| writer5 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length5 = 4:46

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side B

| title6 = As We Go

| writer6 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length6 = 6:00

| title7 = Parents Just Don't Understand

| writer7 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes|Harris}}

| length7 = 5:35

| title8 = Pump Up the Bass

| writer8 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length8 = 5:13

| title9 = Let's Get Busy, Baby

| writer9 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes|Harris}}

| length9 = 4:06

| title10 = Another Special Announcement

| writer10 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes|Harris}}

| length10 = 2:12

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side C

| title11 = Live at Union Square, November 1986 (Live)

| writer11 = Townes

| length11 = 4:07

| title12 = D.J. on the Wheels

| writer12 = Townes

| length12 = 3:36

| title13 = My Buddy

| writer13 = {{hlist|Smith|Clarence Holmes}}

| length13 = 3:40

| title14 = Rhythm Trax-House Party Style

| writer14 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length14 = 4:39

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side D

| title15 = He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper

| writer15 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes}}

| length15 = 6:10

| title16 = Hip Hop Dancer's Theme

| writer16 = Townes

| length16 = 3:48

| title17 = Jazzy's in the House

| writer17 = Townes

| length17 = 4:10

| title18 = Human Video Game

| writer18 = {{hlist|Smith|Townes|Holmes}}

| length18 = 5:40

}}

=Original CD release=

On the original CD, "A 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.realgonemusic.com/news/2017/7/21/dj-jazzy-jeff-and-the-fresh-prince-hes-the-dj-im-the-rapper.html|title=Real Gone Music - News - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince: He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (Expanded Edition) (2CD-Set)|website=www.realgonemusic.com}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 72:19

| title1 = A Nightmare on My Street

| writer1 =

| length1 = 4:56

| title2 = Here We Go Again

| writer2 =

| length2 = 4:01

| title3 = Brand New Funk

| writer3 =

| length3 = 4:04

| title4 = Time to Chill

| writer4 =

| length4 = 4:25

| title5 = Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)

| writer5 =

| length5 = 4:46

| title6 = As We Go

| writer6 =

| length6 = 5:35

| title7 = Parents Just Don't Understand

| writer7 =

| length7 = 5:15

| title8 = Pump Up the Bass

| writer8 =

| length8 = 5:13

| title9 = Let's Get Busy, Baby

| writer9 =

| length9 = 4:06

| title10 = Live at Union Square (November 1986)

| writer10 =

| length10 = 4:07

| title11 = D.J. on the Wheels

| writer11 =

| length11 = 2:44

| title12 = My Buddy

| writer12 =

| length12 = 3:40

| title13 = Rhythm Trax (House Party Style)

| writer13 =

| length13 = 4:39

| title14 = He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper

| writer14 =

| length14 = 4:57

| title15 = Hip Hop Dancer's Theme

| writer15 =

| length15 = 2:55

| title16 = Jazzy's in the House

| writer16 =

| length16 = 3:01

| title17 = Human Video Game

| writer17 =

| length17 = 4:14

}}

Samples and interpolations

;"A Nightmare on My Street"

;"Here We Go Again"

;"Brand New Funk"

;"As We Go"

;"Parents Just Don't Understand"

;"Pump Up the Bass"

;"Let's Get Busy, Baby"

;"Time To Chill"

;"He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"

;"Live at Union Square (November 1986)"

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1988)

! Peak
position

Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/U3mMbfG | title=DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince ARIA chart history|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=July 20, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

|align="center"| 131

Canadian Albums (RPM){{Cite journal | url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.8686&type=2&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sp19smnjn4io5g2nmhli5tdfo5 | title=RPM 100 Albums | journal=RPM | date=October 15, 1988 | volume=48 | issue=26 | access-date=February 15, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216045640/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.8686&type=2&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sp19smnjn4io5g2nmhli5tdfo5 | archive-date=February 16, 2017 | url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"|97

{{album chart|New Zealand|47|artist=DJ Jazzy Jeff|album=He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper|accessdate=August 16, 2021}}
{{album chart|UK|68|artist=DJ Jazzy Jeff|accessdate=August 16, 2021}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|4|artist=D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince|accessdate=August 16, 2021}}
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|5|artist=D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince|accessdate=August 16, 2021}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1988)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 5, 2018}}

| 27

scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-12-24.pdf|title=1988 The Year in Music & Video|magazine=Billboard|volume=100|issue=52|page=Y-24|date=December 24, 1988|accessdate=August 16, 2021|archivedate=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628012030/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-12-24.pdf|url-status=live}}

| 14

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=He's the D.J. I'm the Rapper|artist=D.J. Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince|award=Platinum|relyear=1988}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper|artist=DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1988}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1988 albums

Category:DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince albums

Category:Jive Records albums