PopSyndicate.com

Admittedly, I haven’t followed much of DJ Jazzy Jeff’s career since the days of his pairing with Will Smith back when he was the Fresh Prince, and shame on me and anyone else who hasn’t. Wearing his hip-hop heart on his sleeve, he serves up a heavy dose of old-school flavor with his latest album, The Return of the Magnificent. Not that I would call it a “throwback” album, but there is a clear goal of harkening back to the early days of hip-hop and rap music. Jeff gets help from several veterans and newcomers, and also addresses his frustration with constantly being asked “Where’s Will Smith at?!”

As with most hip-hop albums, the first track is an intro before the music starts, as Jeff prepares to drive down to Atlanta to visit his son. It’s the first in a series of skits throughout the album that finds Jeff trying to find something good to listen to on the radio in his rental car. Along the way, Jeff has hilarious encounters with fast food employees, highway patrolman, and tries to get in touch with the Fresh Prince himself to talk about the whole ordeal.

But it’s the music that we’re tuning in for, and The Return of the Magnificent definitely delivers. “Hip-Hop”, featuring Twone Gabz, sets the mood with the subtle keys and understated DJ scratching. Lyrically Gabz is sometimes comical, sometimes serious, and overall quite versatile in his weaving of words and metaphors, putting most mainstream artists to shame. Meanwhile, “Let Me Hear U Clap” has “summer jam” written all over it, with its uptempo beat and effortless delivery from De La Soul member, Pos. The positive energy just puts you in an undeniably celebratory mood, and things never really slow down from there.

While I struggle to pick any one song as a standout track on the album, I’d say “Jeff ‘n Fess” and “Supa Jean”, featuring Rhymefest and Jean Grae, respectively, are strong candidates. Jeff’s production and scratching on both tracks are damn near flawless, evoking strong old-school vibes, especially with Jean Grae spitting hard and gritty lyrics like female hip-hop pioneers of the old days. Speaking of pioneers, it’s a treat to hear Big Daddy Kane on “The Garden”, as well as CL Smooth on “All I Know”.

From start to finish, The Return of the Magnificent is just solid hip-hop for any fans who are nostalgic for the old days when DJs and MCs played off of one another with more of a synergy than what may be found in most of today’s mainstream rap music. There’s heart and humor to the album, making it remarkably inviting. Jazzy Jeff continues to be an influential hip-hop figure who commands respect.

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