Watch: Surprising Facts About ‘Summertime’ and ‘Before I Let Go’

We’ll start with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince’s iconic summer anthem “Summertime.”

“Summertime” performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince

1. The song was inspired by a visit to Chicago where Will Smith, then referred to as Fresh Prince, met label executive Wayne Williams.

2. Smith wrote the song in a single sitting after a flight delay. He recorded it in a lower than usual pitch, similar to rapper Rakim.

3. “Summertime” reached primary on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group on the 1992 ceremony.

4. The music video for the song premiered during an episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” in July 1991.

5. The song symbolizes warmer weather, cooking together, the change of seasons and the primary days on the pool.

6. “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince is a sample of a song by Kool & the Gang “Summer madness.”

“Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly & Maze

Next up is a song that’s inescapable at any white party, barbecue or party: “Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly & the Butlers and Maze.

1. The song is about lost love and was written by Frankie Beverly a couple of woman he was dating and one other he had just broken up with.

2. The song appears on the 1981 B album “Live in New Orleans”.

3. The song reached number 13 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1981.

4. The song has been the muse of musical excellence for generations of listeners.

5. The song is taken into account a Black anthem and a song every summer.

6. Beyoncé released a canopy of the song in 2019, which features the echoing New Orleans music and horn sounds from “Candy.”

Which fact surprised you probably the most? Take a listen, head over to our Instagram page and tell us what you’re thinking that.