Many probably thought that when Jazzy Jeff let out his last flying "Ahhhh!!" on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he would vanish forever. Not happening.

Among the veterans of hip hop and soul a disc jockey still lurks. In fact, it's pretty hard to emerge from the city of Philly as a songstress or emcee without Jazz having a hand in your melodies. Like any DJ, he produces beats for himself and his friends -- except these friends just happen to be advanced placement students of hip hop.

His acclaimed album

is like a call to the wild for spirituality. Coming from the forest are artists like Jill Scott, J-Live, Raheem Devaughn and many others, and Jazzy Jeff feeds them well.

For Da Love Of Da Game is a rainy song with smooth, George Benson-like guitar notes, quiet keyboard, and soft percussion. Emcees Paul Yamz and Baby Blak express their devotion to the art of hip hop before the chorus takes them on another twirl, singing "Love what you do and do what you love."

Break It Down was a Christmas present for J-Live. For this song, Jeff abandoned the neo-soul sound and returned to the past with a grimy treble composition with constant breaks and his own fine scratching. As usual, the intellectual J-Live delivers quick lyrical whips: "Ay yo, I transfer thoughts to tracks to transcend translation, but you call it the king's English." He also shines on Charmed Life feat. J-Live , a racy fest of classical jazz.

DJ Jazzy Jeff represents some of hip hop's finest and has no plans on seceding. This album reminds us why Will Smith kept this guy so close to his side.

Additional Tracks:
How I Do
Musik Lounge feat. Oddisee