He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (also known as I'm the Rapper, He's the DJ due to the way the title is printed) is the second studio album by American hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was the first double album in hip hop music, and was the eighth rap album to become a platinum album.

He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Studio album by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Released	March 29, 1988
Recorded	1987
Studio	Battery, London, UK Studio 4, Philadelphia
Genre	Hip hop
Length	72:19 (CD) 85:10 (vinyl and cassette)
Label	Jive RCA
Producer	DJ Jazzy Jeff The Fresh Prince Pete "Q" Harris Bryan "Chuck" New
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince chronology
Rock the House (1987) He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (1988) And in This Corner... (1989)
Singles from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
"Brand New Funk" Released: December 2, 1987 "Parents Just Don't Understand" Released: February 17, 1988 "A Nightmare on My Street" Released: August 1, 1988

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Consumer Guide	B−
Pitchfork	7.2/10
Sputnikmusic	4/5

The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 1, 1995, and is the duo's most successful album. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.

Singles

The album's first single, "Brand New Funk", was only released promotionally and, thus, failed to achieve any commercial success. However, the album's second single, "Parents Just Don't Understand", won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Although the album's third single, "Nightmare on My Street", which reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, was considered for inclusion in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, the producers of the film decided against its inclusion. As a result, later vinyl pressings of the album contain a disclaimer sticker that says, "[This song] is not part of the soundtrack...and is not authorized, licensed, or affiliated with the Nightmare on Elm Street films."

Track listings

Original vinyl and cassette release

While released as a double album, Sides C and D were labeled as "Bonus Scratch Album."

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"A Nightmare on My Street"	Will Smith Jeffrey Townes Pete Harris	6:08
2.	"Here We Go Again"	Smith Townes Harris	4:01
3.	"Brand New Funk"	Smith Townes	4:04
4.	"Time to Chill"	Smith Townes	4:25
5.	"Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)"	Smith Townes	4:46

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"As We Go"	Smith Townes	6:00
7.	"Parents Just Don't Understand"	Smith Townes Harris	5:35
8.	"Pump Up the Bass"	Smith Townes	5:13
9.	"Let's Get Busy, Baby"	Smith Townes Harris	4:06
10.	"Another Special Announcement"	Smith Townes Harris	2:12

Side C

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Live at Union Square, November 1986 (Live)"	Townes	4:07
12.	"D.J. on the Wheels"	Townes	3:36
13.	"My Buddy"	Smith Clarence Holmes	3:40
14.	"Rhythm Trax-House Party Style"	Smith Townes	4:39

Side D

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"	Smith Townes	6:10
16.	"Hip Hop Dancer's Theme"	Townes	3:48
17.	"Jazzy's in the House"	Townes	4:10
18.	"Human Video Game"	Smith Townes Holmes	5:40

Original CD release

On the original CD, "Nightmare on My Street", "As We Go", "D.J. on the Wheels," and the final four songs appeared in edited form, and "Another Special Announcement" was omitted. A German edition omitted "Jazzy's in the House" and "Human Video Game" instead. On September 8, 2017, the full vinyl version was finally issued as a double CD set that was released by Real Gone Music under license from Sony Music Entertainment with bonus tracks.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Nightmare on My Street"	4:56
2.	"Here We Go Again"	4:01
3.	"Brand New Funk"	4:04
4.	"Time to Chill"	4:25
5.	"Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)"	4:46
6.	"As We Go"	5:35
7.	"Parents Just Don't Understand"	5:15
8.	"Pump Up the Bass"	5:13
9.	"Let's Get Busy, Baby"	4:06
10.	"Live at Union Square (November 1986)"	4:07
11.	"D.J. on the Wheels"	2:44
12.	"My Buddy"	3:40
13.	"Rhythm Trax (House Party Style)"	4:39
14.	"He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"	4:57
15.	"Hip Hop Dancer's Theme"	2:55
16.	"Jazzy's in the House"	3:01
17.	"Human Video Game"	4:14
Total length:		72:19

Samples and interpolations

"A Nightmare on My Street"

• Theme from A Nightmare on Elm Street by Charles Bernstein

"Here We Go Again"

• "Westchester Lady" by Bob James

"Brand New Funk"

• "Bouncy Lady" by Pleasure
• "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown
• "I Can't Live Without My Radio" by LL Cool J
• "(Fallin' Like) Dominoes" by Donald Byrd

"As We Go"

• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers

"Parents Just Don't Understand"

• "Won't You Be My Friend" by Peter Frampton

"Pump Up The Bass"

• "Funky Drummer" by James Brown

"Let's Get Busy, Baby"

• "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder

"Time To Chill"

• "Breezin'" by George Benson

"He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"

• "Jungle Love" by Steve Miller Band

"Live At Union Square (November 1986)"

• "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn
• "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band
• "Dance To The Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly and Life

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)	131
Canadian Albums (RPM)	97
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	47
UK Albums (OCC)	68
US Billboard 200	4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)	Position
US Billboard 200	27
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Platinum	100,000^
United States (RIAA)	3× Platinum	3,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.