Or vice-versa, Will & Jazzy Jeff could’ve starred in the House Party movie series? Would changing these roles mean we would still have Willow Smith now or would Jada ultimately have had Pac’s baby? Does it mean David D. would have once swore by the Philly duo instead? Dah, who knows but we do learn about the role reversal, courtesy of MovieFone catching up with the light-skinned one at a recent red carpet event.
“A little known fact is that the starring roles were originally meant for another up-and-coming duo, a rapper and DJ named The Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith) and his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff. So, what happened? During a red carpet event for TV One, Christopher “Kid” Reid explained how he and Play were ultimately offered the movie and how they inadvertently returned the favor by backing out of a sitcom that went to become ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’”
Cred: MovieFone
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Wow…
I’m kinda surprised he hasn’t hung himself by now…
Man I woulda hung my eraser-head box fade in shame if that was me. House Party is still a funny movie for what it’s worth.
I don’t think it would’ve played out like that. If Kid N Play were on the Fresh Prince, then I have no doubt that it would’ve been canceled early because neither Kid OR Play is as funny as Will Smith. House Party still would’ve been House Party, regardless of who the stars were.
Old news.
LMAO @ “It all evens out.” lol. Not in the bank account, it don’t.
Couldn’t see the video here at work, but DJ Jazzy Jeff told his version of the story in Episode 4 of Skillz’s Hip Hop confessions. You can hear it on Sklllz’s Infamous Quotes mixtape. Jeff says they were sued for “Nightmare on My Street” and as part of the settlement Jeff and Fresh Price were offered the roles in House Party. They declined and the roles went to Kid N Play.
Will was and remains the greatest urban crossover star in the history of music/entertainment. Kid n Play were, for lack of a better phrase “too hood” to blow up like that.
Conversely Will’s knack for being culturally self-deprecating and ability to defuse racially charged situations and seem colorblind to a fault is truly something to behold.
And of course, Smith is the more talented actor of the bunch, and that’s makes a massive difference in their career arcs. But nobody, not even Denzel or Oprah has gotten further on making mainstream execs and audiences feel comfortable and “safe” than Will Smith.
Plus, push comes to shove, Will always says, “you may be better, smarter, more talented… but nobody’s ever gonna outwork me.”
I believe that.
Also, I think you could make a reasoned argument for Will Smith being one fo the 20 Most Important MCs of all-time. He crossed over on wax in a way nobody before had. Plus, his skills are just generally slept-on cuz he gets hit with the Bill Cosby of Rap label, like what he was doing was easy or something.
Everybody swears they couldve made “parents just don’t understand” or “i can beat mike tyson” or “summertime” , etc. Yet nobody did. I swear I knew the hardest of hardrocks and the softest most sheltered of suburbanites who would rock Will for like 3 albums. You didn’t brag about it necessarily, but you had that ish on tape or on wax.
Similarly, Jazzy Jeff can’t act worth a damn but he’s one of the most polished DJ/Producers hiphop’s ever produced. Also, I’ve seen Jeff live. I watched due do a 4 hour set a couple years ago in ATL. Dude went on at 11pm and sweated the joing out till 3:30–no breaks. Just stood tall in the booth and ripped the joint in half for 4 and a half hours.
I can only name a handful of DJs that can do that in any genre. and nona those guys are half the producer Jeff is.
mark wahlberg >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> will smith
^ whaaaat?!?!?!?!?
Chris is doing the Petey strategy. Don’t fall for it!
mark wahlberg >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> will smith
———————————————————–
C’mon son.
Co-Sign everything Black Conseco said…I still got at least 10 fresh prince tracks on my Iphone right now lol…
Shoot yaself Chris Cool wit that Marky Mark bs, Will is a better actor and MC. Wahlberg is goodass actor tho…
will takes it rap wise, but naw. he aint fuckin with dirk diggler.
Marky mark was not poppin off on the block. Marky was never platinum in the hood, at least not in hood I ever knew. He was big in the burbs, big with harass mainstream kids and their older sisters/moms, etc but Marky never crossed over like that. will was acknowledged by almost every demo… Long before Fresh Prince.
And let’s be real, when’s the last time anybody said “I miss hop back when the Funky Bunch were runnin’ ish.”
Cmon son.
Mark Wahlberg acts two ways.
1. Tired, shy and confused (Boogie Nights, The Big Hit, The Happening)
2. Angry with a Boston accent (The Fighter, Departed)
When you go and see one of his movies, you’re seeing one of the two. Name me a Wahlberg movie where he doesn’t play one of those two traits. But I give him credit because he produces Vinnie Chase and the Chasers. If anything Wahlberg is a better producer then Will. Will produced what? All of Us with his doppleganger Duane Martin and the bootiful Lisa Ray.
I wonder what would’ve become of Martin Lawrence? He got on with Kid and Play but Blew Up*Martin voice* with Will in Bad Boys.
Thats one thing Marky and Will got in common, they only got two acting ranges LOL…
Will is funny so he beats out Marky
You Saw My Blinker BITCH!!!! Fresh Prince was Raw lol. On another note, wats up with the coked out Play pic?? Swan stance??? nigga u gay!