DJ Jazzy Jeff

Monday, April 24, 2023

DJ Jazzy Jeff Launches Music Production Program ‘Making Beats’

DJ Jazzy Jeff Launches Music Production Program 'Making Beats'

DJ Jazzy Jeff has officially launched his debut online music-producing program, “Making Beats with DJ Jazzy Jeff.” Powered by CafeMedia, the intensive six-week live and interactive online program will provide content creators, DJs, and aspiring producers of all skill levels with the resources to build the core foundational skills for music production.

Each week participants will have their beat-making skills sharpened through intricate step-by-step video module lessons ranging from drums, melody, arrangements, mixing, and sampling, which the participants will then apply to their own produced tracks. Students will also be treated to surprise award-winning musical guest appearances throughout the program and the opportunity to have their produced work critiqued during one-on-one feedback sessions with influential producers.

“I’m excited to be launching this new program,” said DJ Jazzy Jeff. “It’s really important for me to pass down knowledge that I have acquired to the next generation of producers and Beatmakers. Giving the next generation a shot to make it in the music industry is special to me.”

The course will be available in two different tiers:

DIY version: Includes the full-video program, written exercises, and bonus resources.

Interactive version: Includes the full-video program, written exercises, bonus resources, weekly live sessions with DJ Jazzy Jeff and other special guests, the exclusive chance to have produced work played in DJ Jazzy Jeff’s live DJ sets, weekly feedback on submitted tracks and exclusive access to online student community forums

By the end of the program, students will be equipped with three finished original tracks and a wealth of newly cultivated production skills vital to each participant’s expanding musical career.

View the trailer for the program above. Register for the program here.

Related Post: Redesigned DJcity Mobile Website Now Live

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Thursday, June 27, 2019

Watch: Behind the Scenes with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith

After a long hiatus, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, a.k.a. the Fresh Prince, reunited in 2017 for pair of concerts. The performances, held in Croatia and the U.K., brought the duo together after nearly two decades apart. Some behind-the-scenes footage has recently been shared, showing Jeff and Will rehearsing for their shows.

Watch the duo’s practice session above.

In related news, DJ Jazzy Jeff will be performing along with DJcity president Phenom at SUNBURN Pool Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego on Saturday, June 29.

Related Post: Watch: DJ Jazzy Jeff, A-Trak, and Craze Talk DJing on ‘Drink Champs’ Podcast

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Saturday, March 23, 2019

Watch: DJ Jazzy Jeff, A-Trak, and Craze Talk DJing on ‘Drink Champs’ Podcast

Jazzy Jeff, A-Trak, and Craze
From left to right: Craze, DJ EFN, DJ Jazzy Jeff, N.O.R.E., A-Trak (Source: Instagram)

DJ Jazzy Jeff recently sat down with the Drink Champs podcast for a casual yet insightful interview. The Philly legend discussed a variety of topics related to DJing and hip-hop.

Later in the interview, co-host DJ EFN spotted A-Trak and Craze in the audience and invited them to join in. It was a rare discussion with three of the most influential figures in DJing.

Watch the full show below. (A-Trak and Craze come on at the 52-minute mark.)

Related: Watch: DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Q&A at Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals

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Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Watch: DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Q&A at Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Styles Davis and DJ Jazzy Jeff
Styles Davis and DJ Jazzy Jeff at Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals (Credit: Julian Melanson)

During the Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals in Taiwan, DJ Jazzy Jeff sat down with DJcity’s Styles Davis for an in-depth Q&A about DJing. The legendary party rocker discussed a variety of topics, sharing his wisdom throughout the talk.

What 3Style means to him:

“This became my most inspirational week of the year … You don’t ever get chance to spend a week with your peers that you can kinda talk a complete circle about what you do. And you start to realize that after that week was over, you were more excited to play, you had more weapons in your arsenal …”

How the scene has shifted from EDM to hip-hop:

“It’s natural. … If you are fortunate to be around long enough, you realize that everything is in cycles. … Anybody that was around in the ’80s can easily identify that EDM is nothing but [Afrika Bambaataa‘s] “Planet Rock” with a little twist on it. … the Joey Bada$$‘s, the J. Coles, and the Kendrick Lamars, that’s just the rebirth of ’90s hip-hop with a twist on it. …”

If technology is making DJs less important:

“I am never afraid of technology replacing me until technology enables you to look around and see how people are vibing and make adjustments … If you want to keep a job, you have to let your employer know how much you’re needed. You gotta go in that club and play like there’s no f#cking machine that will ever be able to play like this. …”

Watch the convo below and stay tuned for DJcityTV’s mini-documentary about 3Style IX.

Related: Watch: Inside DJ Jazzy Jeff’s 2018 PLAYLIST Retreat

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Thursday, August 23, 2018

Watch: Inside DJ Jazzy Jeff’s 2018 PLAYLIST Retreat

DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Jazzy Jeff at the PLAYLIST Retreat in Delaware in August 2018. (Credit: Julian Melanson)

At the beginning of August, DJ Jazzy Jeff hosted the fourth annual PLAYLIST Retreat at his property in Delaware. The multi-day event brought together like-minded DJs, producers, and songwriters to network and collaborate.

In attendance were legendary DJs like Z-Trip and Skratch Bastid, music producers such as Lord Finesse and DJ Khalil, and companies like Serato and Roland, among many others.

Like previous years, the retreat featured a song making competition that grouped random artists into teams.

Watch DJcityTV’s mini-documentary about the retreat below.

Related: An Inside Look at DJ Jazzy Jeff’s 2017 PLAYLIST Retreat

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Tuesday, May 8, 2018

DJ Jazzy Jeff Drops Long-Awaited Album, ‘M3’

DJ Jazzy Jeff

DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Jazzy Jeff at 45 East in Portland, Oregon on March 9, 2018. (Credit: ShutterKlick)

DJ Jazzy Jeff has released M3, the third and final installment of his Magnificent series. The album follows 2002’s Magnificent and 2007’s The Return of the Magnificent.

Three vocalists are featured throughout M3: rapper Rhymefest, who’s best known for co-writing Kanye West‘s “Jesus Walks” and “New Slaves,” Philadelphia rapper and frequent Jeff collaborator Dayne Jordan, and the multitalented artist Uhmeer.

As for musicians, M3 enlists James Poyser (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey), Andre Harris (Usher, Justin Bieber, Jill Scott), and Stro Elliot (The Roots, The Procussions).

“For me, M3 represents freedom as an artist and in business,” Jeff said in the press release. “After all these years in the business, it’s liberating to finally be totally independent. Hopefully, I inspire others to take charge of their own destiny.”

Watch the video for “Skaters Paradise” below and download it on DJcity. The full album can streamed or downloaded here.

Related: Is Sync the End of DJing? DJ Jazzy Jeff Answers at Red Bull 3Style VIII

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