The Truth About Will Smith's Relationship With DJ Jazzy Jeff
Hip-hop duo Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff are often associated with their characters in Smith's "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," but fans might be relieved to know that the pair were — and still are — friends in real life. Long before their time on television, Smith and Jazzy Jeff were known to music fans as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
Together the rap duo dominated the hip-hop charts, spawning hit singles like "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" in 1986 and "Summertime" in 1991. The pair also made history as the first rappers to win a Grammy award in 1989 for their song "Parents Just Don't Understand," per XXL. "The excitement was through the roof," Jeff told the New York Times, adding, "It was validation for the culture." Following their time as a duo, the pair would understandably go on to live separate lives. Smith is now a notable actor, and Jeff is still performing as a DJ.
Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff were a team
Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff's relationship is just as iconic as their music. However, fans will be surprised to learn that the two met accidentally when Jeff received a "last-minute call" to DJ at a party near Smith's home in Philadelphia, according to Republic World. Jeff explained that Smith volunteered to perform with him that evening, and two years later the group released their debut studio album "Rock the House."
Shortly after the group formed, Smith was cast in his first television sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in 1990. Together, the pair wrote and recorded the show's now classic theme song, and Jeff would even go on to become a series regular, appearing in numerous episodes over the show's run. Following the show's end in 1996, Smith and Jeff remained friends, collaborating on music, and even reuniting briefly for a short tour 30 years after they met.
"We catch-up a lot, it's definitely different with our careers, family and kids," Jeff told Metro.co.uk.
Are Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith still friends?
While it may be a surprise to some, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff's friendship has seemingly withstood the often strenuous celebrity lifestyle. In January, Smith posted a touching tribute to his former bandmate on Instagram, saying "some friendships last a lifetime."
Jeff still works collaboratively with Smith, announcing in February that while he is not involved in Peacock's "Bel-Air" reboot, he is still apart of the Fresh Prince family. "I wasn't involved in the making [of the show], but I am one of the hosts of the official 'Bel-Air Podcast' that's coming out," Jeff said in an interview with HipHopDX.
When Smith held a concert to celebrate his 51st birthday, Jeff joined him on stage in Budapest for the show, according to Irish News. During the show, Smith expressed his love for Jeff saying, "We were just two kids from Philly that had a dream so there has never been a time in my life that I didn't look to the side and have a great friend."