Parents Just Don't Understand

"Parents Just Don't Understand"
Single by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
from the album He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Released February 17, 1988
Format 12" Vinyl
Recorded November 1987–January 1988
Genre Golden age hip hop, comedy hip hop
Length
  • 4:13 (radio edit)
  • 5:35 (album version)
Label Jive
Writer(s) Harris, Smith, Townes
Producer(s) Harris, Smith, Townes, New
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince singles chronology
"Brand New Funk"
(1987)		 "Parents Just Don't Understand"
(1988)		 "A Nightmare on My Street"
(1988)
Audio sample
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"Parents Just Don't Understand" is the second single from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's second studio album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 1989 Grammy Awards, one of the two songs to do so before the award was discontinued in 1991. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song was released as a single in spring 1988. The single was only released on Vinyl. The song was referenced several times in the television show The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. The song was ranked #96 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, and the music video was featured in the 2003 film Malibu's Most Wanted.

Song's Premise

The song's two major verses involve The Fresh Prince's problems with his own parents. The first one is a recollection of when he went school shopping with his whole family at the Gallery Mall, and his mother bought him a whole wardrobe of clothing that was way against his style (getting "Zips" shoes instead of Adidas, bell-bottoms, reversible slacks, etc.) and suffering the inevitable at school the first day. The second verse was of him taking the family Porsche out for a spin while his parents were away, picking up a girl, going to McDonald's, flooring it, getting pulled over for speeding, finding out the girl he picked up was a runaway, getting arrested, then being severely disciplined for it by his parents.

Cover versions

A cover of the song was sung by Lil' Romeo, 3LW, and Nick Cannon, which appears on the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius soundtrack. A video was made with cameo appearances from Vanessa A. Williams & Whoopi Goldberg.

The song was used by a young Tupac Shakur in a music video he made with Smith's future wife Jada Pinkett. Shakur and Pinkett had been attending the Baltimore School of Performing Arts. The song was covered by Amy Poehler in the second season premiere of Parks and Recreation. Former pop/hip hop/pop rap group T-Squad covered the song on their only album T-Squad.

Track listing

7" Vinyl
  1. "Parents Just Don't Understand" – 4:13
  2. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Instrumental) – 4:06
12" Vinyl
  1. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Danny D Mix) – 6:20
  2. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Original 7" Version) – 5:13
  3. "Live At Union Square, November 1986" – 4:03
American 12" Vinyl
  1. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Extended Mix) – 5:27
  2. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Single Edit) – 4:13
  3. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Instrumental) – 4:06
  4. "Live At Union Square, November 1986" – 4:03

Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 49
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[3] 13
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 87
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 12
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 10

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dj-jazzy-jeff-the-fresh-prince-mn0000948022/awards
  2. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Parents Just Don't Understand". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  3. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Parents Just Don't Understand". Top 40 Singles.
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