The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was without doubt a driving force in bringing hip hop from the underground to the mainstream in the 90′s. Taking elements from The Jeffersons, Cosby Show and Different Strokes and coupling them with the infectious personality of young rap star Will Smith, the show was a welcome breath of fresh air when it amazingly premiered on BBC 2 of all channels in the UK in late 1990.  The show is centred on the struggles of streetwise teenager Will, who is uprooted from the ghettos of south Philly to the mansions of Bel Air to live with his rich Uncle Phil and his 3 cousins.

This show embodied the essence of early 90′s hip hop with Will sporting a wardrobe colour matched to the front cover of De La Souls 3 Feet High and Rising, whilst spouting the popular slang of the time. Between Will and best friend and occasional guest star Jazz the unsuspecting audience is slowly introduced to the elements of hip hop; turntablism, beatboxing and break dancing, though Will’s dancing is more Heavy D and the Boyz than Crazy Legs.

Though primarily a family show, the Fresh Prince occasionally touched on more serious topics such as crime, racism and absentee fathers, although a gag was never far away to lighten the tone. By the later series a number of running jokes had been firmly established, Aunt Viv had been replaced, Ashley had grown up and a new family member Nicky had been added but the show was just as popular as ever, avoiding the axe on couple of occasions.

Trivia

The running gag of the “Carlton Dance” throughout the show was actually a parody of the Bruce Springsteen dance he did in his video for “Dancing in the Dark” in 1984.

The cab driver in the opening credits is Quincy Jones, the executive producer on the show and whose Swedish son produced the now infamous opening music and score for the show.

Geoffrey’s last name is Butler and in the episode Hare Today, it’s revealed that his middle name is Barbara

Nicky’s full name is Nicholas Michael Shawn Nathan Wanya Banks. He is named after the four members of Boyz II Men, after they performed at his christening.

Running jokes

Jazz gets thrown out of the front door by Uncle Phil

The Carlton dance – usually to Tom Jones

Uncle Phil fat jokes

Hilary and Jazz’s unrequited love

Slapping Carlton or hitting him on the head with anything that comes to hand

Clips

Theme tune

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The best Carlton dance ever

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Will beatboxes at a formal Dinner

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Carlton and Tom Jones

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Jazz gets thrown out for the first time

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Carlton dance compilation

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List of Guest Stars

Richard Roundtree / Sherman Hemsley (The Jeffersons)

Nia Long / Tyra Banks / Jay Leno / Vivica Fox / Chris Rock

Malcolm Jamal-Warner (Cosby Show) / Queen Latifah

Evander Holyfield / Boyz II Men / Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Raven Symone / Donald Trump / Kadeem Hardison

Tisha Campbell / Robin Givens / Isiah Thomas / Isaac Hayes

Oprah Winfrey / Lark Voorhies (Saved by the bell)

Tevin Campbell / Bill Cosby / Tom Jones / B.B King

Gary Coleman / William Shatner / Don Cheadle

Tom ‘tiny’ ‘zeus’ Lister / Jaleel White ‘urkle’

Vanessa Williams/ Jasmine Guy (different world) / John Witherspoon

90s Guy says

This was must see TV for hip hop lovers young and old in the UK. There was only Yo! MTV Raps and the Fresh Prince on telly plus Westwood’s radio shows later on to check for week in week out for a hip hop fix. I’ve never been a big Will Smith fan but this is him at his best; cocky, outrageous and genuinely funny. Later on Ashley was another good reason to tune is as she was one of the only fly girls on TV who was my age. Still can’t believe they never made a movie though?

Links

Official Site

On the DL

Puma West Philly collection

Bringing a new meaning to the phrase ‘fresh kicks’ here are the samples from the new Puma West Philly collection which are based on the cult 90′s TV show the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

The tongues sport the familiar green and pink logo from the shows opening credits and on the heels there is a feint graf dub of the words ‘West Philly’ which is where the playground that the Fresh Prince was born and raised and spent most of his days was situated.

There’s also a backpack and bright green watch to go with these sneaks that have yet to surface in the shops yet but if you do see them holla at ya boy cos I wanna cop these!!!

Peep em here

and the rest of the range here

Wiley – Summertime Video

This video has everything a 90s guy like me could wish for. Backdrops that come straight of a pair of Zubaz pants, a stack of girls in cycling shorts and a homage to the ‘House Party’ dance off, really what more could you ask for?

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Just Blaze – 90′s Flava Vol.1

Roc-a-fella’s premier producer is back with a new mixtape which is all 90′s. Its got a smattering of everything, new jack swing, new school and east coast hardcore. Be warned though, it also has a smattering of his voice every couple of minutes too, but well worth a listen.

On the DL

part 2