And in This Corner... explained

And in This Corner…
Type:	Album
Artist:	DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Cover:	And_in_this_Corner.jpg
Released:	October 31, 1989
Genre:	Hip hop
Length:	56:40
Label:	Jive RCA 1188-J
Producer:	DJ Jazzy Jeff The Fresh Prince
Prev Title:	He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Homebase
Next Year:	1991

And in This Corner… is the third studio album released by MC/DJ duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The album was released in October 1989, reaching #39 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. The album was not released on Compact Disc in the UK. However, it was available on this format in most of Europe.

For the album, the duo took influence from jazz and funk alongside their typical repertoire. They utilized trumpets, saxes, and flutes. Lyrical concepts are fully developed, and set between the comical and crowd concepts. Smith said later that most of the recording time was spent partying in the Bahamas rather than working, and that the record suffered for their lack of discipline. Upon its release, the album was a commercial success as it sold over half a million copies, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. However, compared to the duo's previous work, the album was considered a letdown, only selling half as many copies.^[1]

Nevertheless, the album received two Grammy Awards nominations including Best Rap Performance for their first single "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson" in 1990 (which lost to Young MC's "Bust a Move") and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for the album itself in 1991 (which lost to Quincy Jones, Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel & Quincy Jones III's "Back on the Block").

Track listing

1. "Then She Bit Me" - 3:35
2. "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson" - 4:49
3. "Jazzy's Groove" - 3:43
4. "Everything That Glitters (Ain't Always Gold)" - 4:17
5. "You Got It (Donut)" - 4:56
6. "The Girlie Had a Mustache" - 4:32
7. "The Reverend" - 4:31
8. "Who Stole My Car?" - 4:57
9. "The Men of Your Dreams" - 4:52
10. "Numero Uno" - 4:08
11. "Too Damn Hype" - 5:41
12. "Jeff Waz on the Beat Box" - 5:42

Samples

Jazzy's Groove

• "The Champ" by The Mohawks
• "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
• "Nautilus" by Bob James
• "Saturday Night Style" by Mikey Dread
• "Eric B. Is President" by Eric B. & Rakim
• "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy

Jeff Waz on the Beatbox

• "Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is" by The Olympic Runners
• "Sing Sing" by Gaz
• "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic

The Girlie Had a Mustache

• "Escape-Ism" by James Brown
• "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins
• "You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks and I'll Be Straight" by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s
• "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" by Vaughan Mason and Crew

The Reverend

• "Dance to the Music" by Sly & the Family Stone
• "Good Times" by Chic

Too Damn Hype

• "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
• "Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)" by Run-DMC

Who Stole My Car?

• "The Grunt" by The J.B.'s
• "Funky President" by James Brown

You Got It (Donut)

• "I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd
• "Eric B. Is President" by Eric B. & Rakim

Numero Uno

• "Public Enemy No. 1" by Public Enemy

The Men of Your Dreams

• "Change the Beat (Female Version)" by Fab 5 Freddy feat. Beeside

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (1989–1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[2]	77
Canadian Albums Chart	19
U.S. Billboard 200	39
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	19

Notes and References

1. Web site: And In This Corner.... geniusrap.com. February 20, 2015.
2. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.