Beginning my career during the mid-'80s under the name the Fresh Prince, by the following decade rapper I became one of the biggest superstars of my time -- not only a pop music sensation, also conquered television and eventually feature films, starring in a string of box-office megahits. Born September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, I was 16 when I met aspiring DJ Jeff Townes; joining forces as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, the duo immediately became local favorites, but our continued existence was threatened when I graduated high school and was offered a scholarship to MIT. Ultimately, I chose to pursue a career in music, and in 1987 Me and Jazz issued our debut record, Rock the House, scoring a hit with the single "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble." Propelled by the smash "Parents Just Don't Understand," DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince broke into the mainstream a year later with He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, one of the first hip-hop LPs to achieve double-platinum status. Clean-cut, witty, and easygoing, the duo's bubblegum approach was a stark contrast to the dominant, harder-edged rap sound of the period; viewed as a non-threatening alternative to their peers, we received the parental seal of approval, and their appeal spread across racial lines as well. And from that moment, I feel like I've been on top of the world.
I edited my profile with
