Summertime

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

About Summertime

"Summertime" is a song by American hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was released in May 1991 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Homebase. The song was produced by Chicago-based producers Hula & K. Fingers and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1992 Grammy Awards. It spent a week at number #1 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, as well as reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became the duo's first single to enter the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #8. The song is written in G minor. 


Year:
2004
96 
#1

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Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 

Here it is the groove slightly transformed 
Just a bit of a break from the norm 
Just a little somethin' to break the monotony 
Of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be 
A little bit out of control it's cool to dance 
But what about the groove that soothes that moves romance 
Give me a soft subtle mix 
And if ain't broke then don't try to fix it 
And think of the summers of the past 
Adjust the base and let the alpine blast 
Pop in my CD and let me run a rhyme 
And put your car on cruise and lay back cause this is summertime 

Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 
Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 
Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind

School is out and it's a sort of a buzz 
A back then I didn't really know what it was 
But now I see what have of this 
The way that people respond to summer madness 
The weather is hot and girls are dressing less 
And checking out the fellas to tell 'em who's best 
Riding around in your jeep or your benzos 
Or in your Nissan stting on lorenzos 
Back in Philly we be ou in the park 
A place called the plateau is where everybody goes 
Guys out hunting and girls doing likewise 
Honking at the honey in front of you with the light eyes 
She turn around to see what you beeping at 
It's like the summers a natural afradesiac 
And with a pen and pad I compose this rhyme 
To hit you and get you equipped for the summer time 

Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 
Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 
Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 

It's late in the day and I ain't been on the court yet 
Hustle to the mall to get me a short set 
Yeah I got on sneaks but I need a new pair 
'Cause basketball courts in the summer got girls there 
The temperature's about 88 
Hop in the water plug just for old times sake 
Break to ya crib change your clothes once more 
'Cause you're invited to a barbeque that's starting at 4 
Sitting with your friends cause y'all remincise 
About the days growing up and the first person you kiss 
And as I think back makes me wonder how 
The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia 
All the kids playing out front 
Little boys messin' round with the girls playing double-dutch 
While the DJ's spinning a tune as the old folks dance at your family reunion 
Then six o'clock rolls around 
You just finished wiping your car down 
It's time to cruise so you head to the summertime hangout 
It looks like a car show 
Everybody come lookin' real fine 
Fresh from the barber shop or fly from the beauty salon 
Every moment frontin' and maxin'
Chillin' in the car they spent all day waxin'
Leanin' to the side but you can't spead through 
Two miles an hour so everybody sees you 
There's an air of love and of happiness 
And this is the Fresh Prince's new defintion' of summer madness 

Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 
Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind 
Summer summer summertime 
Time to sit back and unwind

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DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince were an American hip hop duo from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consisting of rapper Will Smith (the Fresh Prince) and disc jockey Jeff Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff). Active full time from 1986 to 1994 and occasionally thereafter, the duo became just the third rap group in recorded history to receive platinum certification, after Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. The group received the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 for "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1988), though their most successful single was "Summertime" (1991), which earned the group their second Grammy and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Will Smith and Jeff Townes have remained close friends and claim they never split up, having made songs to… more »

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Written by: Craig Simpkins, Hula Mahone, Willard Smith, Claydes Smith, Robert Bell, Dennis Thomas, Ronald Bell, Richard Westfield, George Brown, Robert Mickens, Alton Taylor

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Information
"Summertime" was released on May 20, 1991, by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It is a commercial hit single produced for their fourth studio album, "Homebase."
Genre
The song is classified under the genre of Golden Age hip hop, a critically acclaimed subgenre that was popular during the late 1980s to early ‘90s.
Chart Performance
Upon its release, "Summertime" reached the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The song “Summertime” was among the 25 songs that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame added to its list of songs that shaped rock and roll.
Awards
The song won a Grammy Award for the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 34th Grammy Awards in 1992.
Background
The song powerfully evokes a nostalgic, laid-back summer vibe while showcasing the rapping skills of the Fresh Prince (Will Smith).
Sampling
"Summertime" heavily samples "Summer Madness" by Kool & The Gang.
Composer
The core of the soundtrack was composed by Hula and K.Fingers, also known as Floyd Miller and Keith Mayberry.
Lyrics Co-writer
The lyrics for "Summertime" were co-written by Will Smith himself, along with other songwriters.
Legacy
"Summertime" has become synonymous with summer memories for a generation of listeners and remains one of the best-known songs of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
Impact
The song established Fresh Prince (Will Smith) as a talented rapper and set the stage for his eventual move into acting and his starring role on "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Video
The song’s music video features Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff at a summer barbecue, further pushing the summertime theme.

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