Will Smith Gets His Fresh Back, Revamps “Summertime” Smash Anthem [Audio]

Hollywood star Will Smith is proving he can still lay down a few hot bars heading into the summertime by remixing his 1991 DJ Jazzy Jeff smash anthem "Summertime."

A preview of the unexpected “Summertime” remix landed online Friday (June 8).

We know him better as Will Smith than the Fresh Prince these days, but the “Men in Black 3” star is getting back on the mic. The 43-year-old actor has recorded a remix of his 1991 still-fresh classic with DJ Jazzy Jeff, “Summertime” (which, let’s be honest, we still have in rotation, especially when the weather heats up). It’s “a groove slightly transformed, just a bit of a break from the norm,” Smith rhymes over the familiar beat. “Just a little somethin’ to break the monotony of all that hard-core dance that it’s gotten to be.” TMZ posted about a minute of the reworked hit, which will serve as an intro to “Summertime 3,” a forthcoming mixtape from DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie. (CNN)

Fans anxious to get their hands on the full-length will have their wishes granted next week.

Now 21 years later Fresh Prince, who is now going by the square name of Will Smith, has decided to release a remix of the song. Judging by this snippet, Smith’s voice sounds more like Isaac Hayes than Fresh Prince at this point. The new “Summertime” will be available for download on Monday, June 11. (Philly)

Last year, The Cool Kids’ Chuck Inglish named Smith’s 1991 classic as one of his favorite summer anthems.

“My favorite summer jam is Roy Ayers‘ ‘Sunshine,'” Chuck Inglish told SOHH. “That’s the one for me. The second one is Fresh Prince’s ‘Summertime.’ But that’s completely the same sh*t. That song is the root of the other song, I would say. ‘Sunshine’ just reminds me of smelling charcoal.” (SOHH)

Upon its 1991 release, Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “Summertime” hit platinum status.

More than a decade before he was gettin’ jiggy with it, Will Smith was the Fresh Prince, with help on production from his Philly friend DJ Jazzy Jeff. The duo hit the Top Ten in 1991 with the platinum single “Summertime,” a laid-back trip through everyone’s favorite season with help from a spacy sample originally found on Kool & the Gang‘s “Summer Madness.” Listening to it now, it’s a bit of a surprise — Smith’s rapping style really hasn’t changed in over a decade. That’s hardly a bad thing, though, considering both his voice and rhymes are supremely danceable and tailored for crossover radio play. (All Music)

Check out “Summertime” remix below: