will smith musical partner

Will Smith's musical partner was DJ Jazzy Jeff, whose real name is Jeffrey Townes. They formed the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince in the mid-1980s and achieved significant success together, including winning the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989. They are known for hits like "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime." Despite eventually pursuing separate careers, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith have remained friends and occasionally collaborate. DJ Jazzy Jeff was the DJ and turntablist, while Will Smith was the rapper known as The Fresh Prince. They started their collaboration in Philadelphia around 1986, performing and recording music that often stayed light-hearted and storytelling style. Their partnership lasted until the mid-1990s, after which Will Smith transitioned more fully to acting, but they still perform together occasionally and remain on good terms.