3 stars out of 5
After years of proclaiming that he wouldn't do gangsta rap, The Fresh Prince finally succumbs to a harder-edged style on Code Red. And, surprisingly, he pulls it off well, thanks to sharp production and his endearing personality.
-- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Q Magazine
Code Red DJ Jazzy Jeff/The Fresh Prince
Aiming their cheerfully chirpy radio-friendly raps at everyone from the crack house to the frat house, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince stake a larger than life claim to a style of populist rap which rejects the crass and violently negative stereotypes of hip hop mythology. I'm Looking For The One and Can't Wait To Be With You are solid lovelorn raps, while Twinkle Twinkle serves up dry and salient observations on the double-edged sword of celebrity against a zinging melodic backbeat. The hip hop fires of dance frenzy are stoked up to a sweaty maximum on I Wanna Rock and a ferocious street remix of Boom! Shake The Room, which leaves its chart-dwelling cousin trembling in the corner.
- Paul Davies
My rating:
