"Summertime" is a song by American hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was released in May 1991 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Homebase. The song was produced by Chicago-based producers Hula and K. Fingers, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1992 Grammy Awards. It spent a week at number #1 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart,[1] as well as reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (their highest charting single on the latter). It also became the duo's first single to enter the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #8.
Steve Huey from AllMusic said that "Summertime" "was a warm, breezy reminiscence about growing up in Philadelphia and attending barbecues where the whole community showed up to see and be seen." He added, "It had all the good vibes of a typical Fresh Prince number, but it was clearly a more mature effort, and that's Homebase in a nutshell."[2]Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Pop/rap duo returns with this steamy hip-hop jam that is sure to quickly heat up radio airwaves thanks to its catchy chorus and clever wordplay."[3] James Bernard from Entertainment Weekly described the song as "absolutely uplifting".[4]People magazine stated that "the musical backing is more sophisticated", describing it as "a smooth Gershwin via Kool & the Gang version".[5]Rolling Stone magazine placed it at number 9 in its 2013 "Best Summer Songs of All Time", saying, "Over a funky laid back beat, a young Will Smith does a fantastic Rakim impression over a sample of Kool & the Gang's "Summer Madness" and drops a sweet ode to hanging out and driving around his native Philly: "Honking at the honey in front of you with the light eyes/ She turn around to see what you beeping at/ It's like the summer's a natural aphrodisiac." It's still hip-hop's finest summer celebration."[6]
Track listing[]
CD Single
"Summertime" (Single Edit) – 3:57
"Summertime" (DJ Jazzy Jeff Mix) – 5:37
"Summertime" (Street Club Remix) – 6:06
"Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" (Shorter Single Edit) – 3:58
12" Vinyl
"Summertime" (DJ Jazzy Jeff Mix) – 5:37
"Summertime" (LP Version) – 4:30
"Summertime" (Instrumental) – 4:30
"Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" (Shorter Single Edit) – 3:58