Search - DJ Jazzy Jeff :: Return of the Magnificent

Magnificent, indeed

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 01/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm sure no one has forgotten whom Jeff Townes is, but few people other than those in the underground probably know that he's still been doing his thing, as his partner Will Smith has been getting much more publicity. This, of course, led to many jokes at Jeff's expense (the best one would have to be back in the 2002 Britney Spears episode of Saturday Night Live during Weekend Update when Jimmy Fallon talks about Will purchasing a multi-thousand dollar apartment; then he says, "In a related story, DJ Jazzy Jeff wants to know if you're going to eat the rest of that."). But now Jeff comes back with his official sequel to 2002's The Magnificent, naturally titled The Return of the Magnificent.



Jeff brings a lot of talent to the table on this release, and the guests hold their own over his backdrops. Jean Grae sounds as dope as ever on "Supa Jean", Rhymefest shines on "Jeff N' Fess", and Kel Spencer shows how it's done on "The Definition". And although Method Man doesn't sound THE best on "Hold It Down", it's the best he's sounded in a while. There's also "Run That Back", which will make you do just that.



Singers also shine on here...well, sometimes they do. Raheem DeVaughn's "My Soul Ain't for Sale" is great, but the sensual "Touch Me Wit Ur Handz" (by Chinah Blac) doesn't quite turn you on the way it should (and not to read too much into this, but...what else WOULD we touch her with?). Another thing is that when rapper Twone Gabz comes aboard, he hits ("Hip Hop") and misses ("Go See the Doctor").



Recurring skits on a rap album are usually a waste of time, but the skits on here are actually interesting, as they mostly detail how more people ask about Will than Jeff himself (there's even a skit with Will in it saying that). But one thing I cannot believe is that a person like DJ Jazzy Jeff would stoop to a stupid fake-white-cop-pulling-a-black-guy-over-for-no-reason skit. Oh, well; The Return of the Magnificent proves that Jeff's still got the skills, so cop it.



Anthony Rupert"