DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith) are set to reunite and join next week’s “A Grammy Salute to 50 years of Hip Hop” event.
On November 1, the Recording Academy announced its full list of performers taking part in the 50th anniversary celebration. The inclusion of the Philly-based duo, who scored big hits in the 1980s before starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, raises eyebrows as it will mark Will Smith’s first major public appearance since he slapped Chris Rock during the Academy Awards broadcast in March 2022.
Smith has kept a low profile since the incident, which he apologized for, however, after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences banned him from the ceremony for a decade, he has been relatively invisible.
The duo made Grammy history back in 1989 when their hit song “Parents Just Don’t Understand” became the first ever hip-hop recording to win a Grammy, for Best Rap Performance. The following year, they made history again as the first hip-hop act to perform at the Grammys.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince will join other newly announced performers including 2 Chainz, T.I., Gunna, Too $hort, Latto, E-40, Big Daddy Kane, GloRilla, Juvenile, Three 6 Mafia, Cypress Hill, Jeezy, DJ Quik, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Warren G, YG, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, Spinderella, Black Sheep, and Luniz.
Other performers previously announced include 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.
The two-hour concert special will take place on November 8 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, taped to air on CBS and Paramount+ the following month on December 10.
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