He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
| He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince | ||||
| Released | March 29, 1988[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1988 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
72:19 (CD) 85:10 (Vinyl) | |||
| Label |
1091-J | |||
| Producer | Pete Harris, The Fresh Prince, DJ Jazzy Jeff | |||
| 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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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [2] |
| Robert Christgau | (B−)[3] |
| Sputnikmusic |  [4] |
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper is the second studio album by hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was the first double album in hip hop music, in its original vinyl incarnation.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album triple platinum on February 1, 1995,[5] 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 and reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] Although the album's third single, "Nightmare on My Street", which reached #15 on the 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, 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 release
While released as a double album, Sides C and D were labeled as a "Bonus Scratch Album".[7]
| Side A | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "A Nightmare on My Street" | Pete Harris, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Will Smith | 6:08 |
| 2. | "Here We Go Again" | 4:01 | |
| 3. | "Brand New Funk" | Will Smith | 4:04 |
| 4. | "Time to Chill" | 4:25 | |
| 5. | "Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)" | 4:46 | |
| Side B | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Side C | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 11. | "Live at Union Square (November 1986)" | 4:07 | |
| 12. | "D.J. on the Wheels" | 3:36 | |
| 13. | "My Buddy" | 3:40 | |
| 14. | "Rhythm Trax-House Party Style" | 4:39 | |
| Side D | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 15. | "He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper" | 6:10 | |
| 16. | "Hip Hop Dancer's Theme" | 3:48 | |
| 17. | "Jazzy's in the House" | 4:10 | |
| 18. | "Human Video Game" | 5:40 | |
CD release
For the CD, "Nightmare on My Street", "As We Go", "D.J. on the Wheels" and the final four songs appear in edited form, and "Another Special Announcement" was omitted. The full vinyl version has not been issued on CD, apart from a German edition that omitted "Jazzy's in the House" and "Human Video Game" instead.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | 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 | ||