Simon Cowell Teams Up With Will Smith And Jada Pinkett Smith To Find The World’s Best DJ
Simon Cowell
The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that music and TV executive, Simon Cowell will be developing a new reality competition, only this time he will not be searching for singers. This time around it will be a competition searching for the world’s best DJ.
Through the years Simon has worked with some of the best singers in the world, but for this show Cowell will be one of the most well known people in Hip Hop who’s music has made an impact on the art of DJing. Cowell’s SYCO Entertainment is partnering with and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television to launch the format, which is expected to be shopped internationally and domestically.
It is undeniable that Will Smith is one of the most accomplished actors and producers in Hollywood, but Hip Hop fans also remember him as one half of the groundbreaking group, DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince. While Jeff and Will became the first Rap group to ever win a Grammy Award in 1989 for “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” it is also important to note that the group did quite a bit to bring the Hip Hop art of DJing to mainstream America. They helped bring Hip Hop and Rap to new heights of popularity with their brand of radio friendly songs that achieved an unprecedented amount of Pop success. However with every Pop single the group released, they backed up with a majority of their album cuts devoted to showing DJ Jazzy Jeff’s talents as a DJ, and allowed him to expand the horizon of where the art form can go. Even as a solo artist in the 90s to the Pop music world, Will Smith never lost the value of having Jeff at his side. The two reunited on Will’s 1999 album, Willennium. They performed on the album together as “DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince” on the old school style songs “So Fresh’ and “Pump Me Up.”
Now as Pop music is becoming more and more inspired by electronic House music DJs are once again in the spotlight. As we first reported to you in December, French DJ David Guetta became the first DJ and music artist to be handprinted at the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Also other European DJs like Calvin Harris and Avicii are making an impact in America teaming up and inspiring artists like Rihanna and Flo Rida. Simon Cowell is seeing the power these people are having on the pulse of music as it is growing to become more and more multicultural.
“DJ’s are the new rock stars, it feels like the right time to make this show,” Cowell said in a recent statement. He took to his Twitter account with his excitement about the new show.
“Excited to announce new DJ show. I will NOT be judging this show. Excited to be working with @jadapsmith. Stay tuned!” (Jada Pinkett Pinkett Smith)
Key Tracks By DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Parents Just Don’t Understand”
From He’s The DJ…I’m The Rapper
Jive/RCA Records
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Brand New Funk”
From He’s The DJ…I’m The Rapper
Jive/RCA Records
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“I Wanna Rock”
From Code Red
Jive Records
Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff As DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Featuring Slick Rick & Biz Markie
“So Fresh”
From Will Smith’s 1999 album, Willennium
Columbia Records
(Audio Sony Music Has Blocked the music video in the USA)
Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff As DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Pump Me Up”
From Will Smith’s 1999 album, Willennium
Columbia Records
Current Hits From Today’s DJs
David Guetta Featuring Usher
“Without You”
From Nothing But The Beat
Astralwerks/Capitol Records/EMI
David Guetta Featuring Nicki Minaj
“Turn Me On”
From Nothing But The Beat
Astralwerks/Capitol Records/EMI
Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris
“We Found Love”
From Talk That Talk
SRP/Def Jam Records/IDJMG
Avicii
“Levels”
Interscope Records
Flo Rida
“Good Feeling”
From Only One Rida Part 2
Poe Boy/Atlantic Records
