“Jazzy” Jeff Townes is a rare example of an old-school giant who stays relevant. Never selling out to the Hot 97 formula of club mixing, he mentors young Philadelphia acts (think Musiq and Jill Scott) while staying true to the sonic activism of turntable hip-hop through sundry panel appearances and DJ gigs. He’s more than that weirdo who gets thrown out of Will Smith’s mansion on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Now Jazzy Jeff is finally issuing a follow-up to his acclaimed 2002 debut The Magnificent. The new album is tentatively scheduled for a February 2007 release and reportedly includes collaborations with Method Man, De La Soul and Little Brother.
Before that, Jazzy Jeff is dropping Hip-Hop Forever III, a sequel to his 2004 mix CD Hip-Hop Forever II on October 31. It finds Jeff flipping classic backpacker cuts, from Eric B. and Rakim’s “Eric B. is President” to Jay Dee’s “Fuck Tha Police.”
Both Hip-Hop Forever III and the new album will come to you via UK imprint BBE. Here’s the track list for the former:
01. Biz Markie – Tear Shit Up
02. The Pharcyde – Passing Me By
03. Lil Brother – Whatever You Say
04. The Large Professor – Ijustwannachill
05. Masta Ace Inc – Top Ten List
06. Mister Complex – Visualize
07. Little Brother – Speed
08. Big L – Ebonics
09. Saukrates – Play Dis
10. Slum Village – Players
11. The Pharcyde – Runnin’
12. Jay Dee – Fuck Tha Police
13. Eric B And Rakim – Eric B Is The President
14. Marley Marl – Droppin Science
15. Gangstarr – The ? Remains
16. Gangstarr – Mass Appeal
17. Gangstarr – Full Clip
18. Royce da 5’9 – Boom
19. A Tribe Called Quest – Award Tour
20. Phat Kat – Dont Nobody Care About Us
21. Mobb Deep – Quiet Storm
22. Black Moon – Who Got Da Props
23. Redman – Lets Get Dirty
24. Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours
25. Main Source – Lookin At The Front Door
26. J-Live – Them Thats Not
www.jazzyjeff.com
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