Last week, fans fiending for nostalgia were treated to an impromptu The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion courtesy of Will Smith, who helped transform the show into a cultural phenomenon. And as the cast and critics continue their yearlong celebration of the 30th anniversary of this landmark sitcom, DJ Jazzy Jeff will be hosting a virtual block party on Saturday to pay homage to the music, style and community that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air brought to life.
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The βBreak the Monotony Block Partyβ will feature some of the biggest DJs in the game, with legends such as DJ D-Nice, Just Blaze, DJ Clark Kent and Bryan-Michael Cox set to participate during the 12+ hour extravaganza.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Jeff explained how DJing from his home during the pandemic sowed the seeds for what would eventually blossom into a full-fledged virtual block party.
βI started live-streaming from home a month ago, every Saturday on IG live and Facebook,β he said. βI thought, βIβm going to DJ and youβre going to dance in your kitchen with your significant other and weβre going to have a good Saturday.β But the idea came up that it would be cool to do a block party with not just me DJ-ing, but have a full day of some of the best DJs in the world. So I called up some of my friends and said, βLetβs make this an all-day thing;β letβs stay in the house, cook some food, make some drinks, and dance in the kitchen together.β
To the delight of everyone not named Janet Hubert, this celebration of all things The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will be more than just music, as the virtual block party will also be accompanied by a limited edition, unisex collectionβnot to be confused with a similar one that dropped last yearβinspired by the Fresh Prince himself that will debut on the same day.
Composed of the bright palettes and familiar fluorescent tones of yesteryear, the collection pays tribute to the showβs iconic six-year run, including a nod to the showβs opening credits and those unforgettable βFreshβ license plates. Additionally, a percentage of all proceeds will be donated to No Hungry Kid, which will help provide healthy meals to children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemicβa cause near and dear to DJ Jazzy Jeffβs own heart after his own battle with the coronavirus.
βItβs humbling to see how The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and our music has transcended time and continued to shape pop culture,β Jeff told The Root in a statement. βBetween this new collection and the block party, I hope we can come together during these trying times, celebrate culture, put smiles on peopleβs faces and raise money for an important cause.β
For those interested in the capsule collection, hit up www.freshprincestore.com.
You can find Saturdayβs full βBreak the Monotony Block Partyβ schedule below:
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