DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince To Reunite For GRAMMY Hip-Hop 50 Tribute
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince — a.k.a Will Smith — are set to reunite for A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years Of Hip-Hop on Wednesday (Nov. 8) at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
The Philly natives will join previously announced performers including Arrested Development, Big Daddy Kane, Black Sheep, Cypress Hill, Digable Planets, DJ Quik, E-40, GloRilla, Gunna, Jeezy, Juvenile, Latto, Luniz, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Spinderella, Three 6 Mafia, T.I., Too $hort, 2 Chainz, Warren G, YG, Black Thought, Bun B, Common, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Lady Of Rage, LL Cool J, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, and Yo-Yo.
This also marks one of Smith’s first public events since slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. He and his longtime musical partner and friend made GRAMMY history twice. Considering the GRAMMYs didn’t have a dedicated Hip-Hop category until 1988, their hit record, “Parents Just Don’t Understand” was the first rap song to win a Grammy for Best Rap Performance, but they weren’t invited to perform.
However, The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff later became the first Hip-Hop artists to perform at the GRAMMYs in February 1990. “We’d like to dedicate this performance to all the rappers last year that stood with us and helped us to earn the right to be on this stage tonight,” said Smith ahead of their “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson” performance.
Of the upcoming tribute, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. shared in a statement, “For five decades, Hip Hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” he said. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the Grammy stage. It is just the beginning of our year-long celebration of this essential genre of music.”
Fans can attend the tribute’s taping, as tickets are currently on sale via Ticketmaster. The special tribute, presented by the Recording Academy, Jesse Collins Entertainment, and CBS will air on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+.
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