What does Will Smith say in the theme to Fresh Prince?

Cafe Society
1

On another board somewhere in this jungle of 1 and 0s, there has been a steady argument about this one lyric:

Either A) Chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxing all cool
or B) Chillin’ out max and relaxing all cool.
The argument put up by those who chose B is that there is no such work as “maxin” and also, they hear ‘max and’ and that makes more sense (no it doesn’t). Those who say A point out that there is no such word as “chillin” either. The word is “maxing” and those who think B have no idea what slang is.

Until I read the comments on the other board, I did not know there was this big controversy over these lyrics as it is quite clear to me The Fresh Prince is maxing. What say you?

2

It’s maxin’. “Maxin’ and relaxin’” is 80s/90s hip hop slang.

3

Here is a cat demonstrating the process of maxing and relaxing.

4

Slang aside, they are also wrong on this point. There is the off chance that Mr. Smith was talking about using a jet nebulizer–or an elderly British television producer. (Hey, I’m not judging!)

(Just for the heck of it.)

5

I looked it up and found additional lyrics. Is there a full lengh video that includes the lyrics in this sheet?
Lyrics to full song.

6

I never thought it was anything else. Like you said, “maxin’ and relaxin” was 80s slang. Although, to be completely thorough, I suppose it is possible that it became slang because of this theme song. And, in that case, there is a possibility that a mishearing of the lyrics made its way into a broader context of 80s slang. Any cites of it being used earlier to solidify the case for A)?

7

Well, EPMD’s “The Big Payback” predates the Fresh Prince song, and that contains the phrase “maxin or relaxin.” Ice-T has a couple uses of just “maxin” from ‘87. It appears to most often be paired with the words "relaxin’," “waxin’,” and “taxin’.”

8

Ton-Loc’s (remember him?) “Cheeba Cheeba” from 1989 contains the lyric “I’m maxin’, relaxin’, but never taxin’.” Seems like it’s pretty well established late 80s hip hop slang before Fresh Prince’s 1990 song.

9

Perhaps the non-slangers envision Will Smith in an overly air conditioned room on a La-Z-Boy reading a gentleman’s magazine.

Going off on a wild tangent: Why is the delightful FHM magazine gone while we are stuck with brain dead Maxim?

10

Without looking into lyrics or anything like that, I always thought it was A. Didn’t know there was any other interpretation.

11

Here’s a page from New York Magazine, 1985 edition. (Scroll to the cover page, and you’ll see a much younger Trump there.)

Anyhow, this February 1985 edition has a letter to the editor:

Italics in original.

So, we have an article from 1985 talking about the word “maxin’” and a possible source of prison slang dating back to the early 70s. The people on the other board claiming the word doesn’t exist are ignorant. They were known enough in 1985 to get a mainstream publication to write about it as “new slang.”