Out of the entire lexicon of what DJ Jazzy Jeff has produced and influenced musically there is a specific reason why I wanted to provide this clip along with birthday well wishes. The reason is simple: This song is history. There is absolutely no debating that point. 21 years and 11 months ago today DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand” won the first Rap Grammy Award.
See it sorta works like this in my mind: one day they didn’t have Rap Grammy Awards and then on February 22, 1989 they did. It’s a specific point in time, the importance of which is to: Remember all that came before that made that moment in time possible and all that came after which that moment in time makes possible.
Happy Birthday DJ Jazzy Jeff!
Ivan Orr is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, and writer. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia Ivan was involved with the forming and nascent days of The Music Resource Center as its first Program Director. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Music, Ivan currently resides in Richmond, VA where he maintains an active performance and production schedule while serving as the Music Editor for Grown Folks Music, a position he has held since 2010.
