Decades after his career began, Will Smith is now… Will Smith. That sounds obvious, yes, but back in the day, he was The Fresh Prince, a rapper who was part of a duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff that had some hit songs in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Among the lot: “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” “Summertime,” and “Boom! Shake the Room.”
As Smith’s acting career began to take off, though, his obligations to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince took a clear backseat; the last time we heard new music from the duo was the 1998 single “Lovely Daze,” and their most recent full album was 1993’s Code Red. But all these years later, they’re back. At the Livewire Festival this past weekend, the two performed “Get Lit,” their first new song together in nearly 20 years.
This isn’t the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff you remember, though. Instead of lighthearted hip-hop, “Get Lit” is an EDM track complete with thumping drops and a seizure-inducing light show. It also might feel a bit weird to hear a 48-year-old Will Smith unironically saying the phrase “get lit,” but in his defense, if any dad is going to be able to pull it off, it would probably be Will Smith.
There’s no word yet on new recorded music from Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, but would you look forward to an EDM-leaning record from the two? Or would you prefer a more throwback sound? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Featured image: Jive/RCA
