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DJ Jazzy Jeff - The Return Of The MagnificentAlbum Review by:
William E. Ketchum III
Monday, April 2, 2007
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With his lack of activity in the mainstream rap scene, some may think that Jazzy Jeff’s closest relevance to today’s entertainment scene is getting tossed out the Banks mansion by Uncle Phil on sitcom reruns. But real heads know that Jeff’s hip-hop contributions didn’t stop with the Fresh Prince albums of the late 80s and early 90s. After dropping his critically-acclaimed solo debut, The Magnificent, in 2002, Jeff has kept busy DJing shows and releasing installments with his Hip Hop Forever compilation series. With his sophomore solo set, Jazzy Jeff gets down behind the boards and employs some indie rap’s finest to help show listeners that he hasn’t lost a step.
As evident by his recent efforts (and by his name), Jeff’s penchant lies in lacing lush, laid back grooves. His silky, layered keys for CL Smooth on “All I Know” stands up with the material CL made with Pete Rock, and “The Garden” uses lush keys and guitar keys to accentuate Big Daddy Kane’s ode to hip-hop. Jeff’s R&B hustle is in tact as well, perfectly backing songstress ChinahBlac’s coos with soft piano keys on “Touch Me Wit Ur Hands” and providing a grown and sexy two-step for soulster Raheem DeVaughn with “My Soul Ain’t For Sale.”
But don’t get it twisted: Jazzy Jeff is the same producer who laced upbeat party grooves for Will Smith, and there are still plenty of hard-hitting, hip-hopcentric efforts as well. “Jeff N Fess” features Rhymefest rhyming over Jeff’s frenetic scratching and a catchy breakbeat, and State Property alumnus Peedi Peedi runs wild over the rejuvenated old school feel of “Brand New Funk 2k7.”In perhaps the most interesting moment of the LP, “Hold It Down” sees Jeff breaks more needles and employs an assertive head nodder that deftly matches Method Man’s braggadocios quips.
The Return Of The Magnificent’s flaws are few and far between. “She Was So Fly” features another silky instrumental, but it clashes with Kardinal Offishall’s loud, energetic flow. Also puzzling is the exclusion of the Little Brother-featured “Whatever U Want” and the snazzy instrumental “Bossynova,” each of which were on the previously leaked EP version of the album. Nevertheless, 'The Return Of The Magnificent' lives up to its name—the triumphant homecoming
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