1996 Rewind: Remembering The Nutty Professor Soundtrack

1996 is one of the most beloved years in hip-hop and R&B, so we’re going to spend all month celebrating its greatness! All 2026, we’re turning the clock back 30 years to review, revisit and relive the most pivotal moments of Black music in that era. And, of course, I’ll be joined by a host of music homies as we debate the best of the best.

Let’s try something new! It’s not often that we talk about soundtracks in the space, but the 90s gave us countless great ones and on this day in 1996, we got one of the best ever. Since we’re talking movies & music, it’s only right to bring in Derrick Dunn of Reviews & Dunn to join the conversation about The Nutty Professor soundtrack. It’s full of memorable hits and introduced us to future legends too.

Let’s get started! What are your earliest memories of this soundrack?

Derrick: As long as you’ve known me, you know soundtracks are my bread and butter. The Nutty Professor was no different. When it dropped in 1996, I was spending the summer in Lubbock, Texas. It was during my so-called “thug phase,” and my mother thought a summer away might humble me a little. One of my biggest coping mechanisms has always been music, and I had this soundtrack on repeat the entire summer. To this day, whenever I hear songs from this album, I’m instantly transported back to that period of my life.

Edd: Soundtracks in the 90s were something special and, nine times out of 10, were far more interesting that the movies they promoted. To be fair, The Nutty Professor was a fun movie – but I didn’t see it until after its theatrical run. But I FOR SURE copped the soundtrack, thanks to a FIRE debut single from Case that paired him with the red-hot Foxy Brown, and collabo records with Monica and Treach and Montell Jordan and Slick Rick respectively. Feature records are very typical today but they weren’t quite as common in that era  and I really enjoyed the random parings. Once I got my hands on the soundtrack, it lived up to expectations – great singles and even greater album cuts from new faces. There was no shortage of dope soundtracks in the 90s, but The Nutty Professor still holds up as one of the absolute best.

Let’s talk best song! What’s your favorite and why?

Derrick: “Come Around”

Big Bruv, you know I’m a sucker for a good ballad. That’s why even I’m surprised that my favorite song on the soundtrack is “Come Around.” Back in high school, I was always a little shy around girls. I wasn’t the guy effortlessly walking up to the popular girl and shooting my shot. “Come Around” captured those feelings perfectly. It spoke to wanting someone who felt just out of reach.

Edd: “Touch Me, Tease Me”

I almost went with “Come Around” too but my nostalgia is too strong for “Touch Me, Tease Me.” That sinister, pulsating production was so ahead of its time, And give Case credit – few vocalists could carry a song this well without getting overpowered by that beat. Add Mary J. Blige’s subtle additions to the hook (it took me weeks before I realized she was there – and yes, that was before the video dropped) and Foxy continuing her unstoppable run and you’ve got the makings of a late 90s classic.

Which song produced the best video?

Derrick: “Touch Me, Tease Me”

As a huge Jay-Z fan, I wanted to go with “Ain’t No.” The problem is that most people associate that video with Reasonable Doubt rather than The Nutty Professor soundtrack. So I’m going with Case’s “Touch Me, Tease Me.” Everything about it represents the best of flashy 90s R&B.

Edd: “I Like”

If it’s one thing these retrospective posts have taught me is that a lot of 90s videos don’t hold up too well. The Nutty Professor actually gave us a bunch of videos but most aren’t memorable. “Touch Me, Tease Me” had cool lighting but it was just Case n’ friends dancing in a dark room with clips of the Klumps spliced between. Jay and Foxy just stood around on the corner for “Ain’t No,” Dos of Soul was just performing in a club, and let’s not mention the Az Yet’s Windows 96 screensaver video. I’ll give it to Montell for “I Like” – sure, it was a standard 90s video but at least we got different locations.

Aaaand speaking of videos, we have to talk about “Last Night.” Was it cringey to you in 1996?

Derrick: Not really. When I interviewed Shawn from AZ Yet, he explained that budget limitations played a role in how the video turned out. Personally, I think the version featuring movie footage works better.

Edd: Oh it was cringe to me. CRINGE. I know the final result was intentional but even back then it seemed … wrong. Like someone discovering green screen for the first time and just losing their mind inserting floating mountains. Yeah, you could tell budget limitations were in place. The alcohol consumption certainly wasn’t limited.

Which song should have been a single?

Derrick: “Love You Down”

“Love You Down” by Da Bassment. Yes, it’s a cover, and the label logistics probably would have been a nightmare. Still, I would have loved to see it receive a real promotional push.

Edd: “Pillow”

Call me crazy but I think “Pillow” could have worked very well as a single. Richie Rich’s laidback flow is a perfect fit for the Tony Toni Tone’s sample. I guess you could say the sample was a little too heavy handed – the song felt more like a remix instead of a reimagining – but it’s so undeniably smooth.

What’s the most underrated song?

Derrick: “Breaker 1, Breaker 2”

“Breaker 1, Breaker 2.” If memory serves me correctly, this was my introduction to Def Squad. The lyrics were solid, the energy was there, and Erick Sermon was completely in his bag with the production.

Edd: “Breaker 1, Breaker 2”

YESSIR. The Nutty Professor has so many memorable songs that a few of the album cuts get overlooked but “Breaker 1, Breaker 2” deserves every bit of your attention. Def Squad brought such a raucous energy in every song. I REALLY miss that energy today.

This soundtrack introduced us to so many great new artists. Hindsight aside, which one introduced you the most at the time?

Derrick: AZ Yet. The 90s had no shortage of Boyz II Men clones, but AZ Yet felt different. They managed to bring their own flavor to the ballad game without simply copying the Boyz II Men blueprint.

Edd: After “Touch Me, Tease Me,” I was ready to bet the house on Case. He was that perfect marriage of authentic soul with hip-hop edge, essentially the evolution of Jodeci. And I wasn’t wrong – Case would carve out a memorable career for himself.  But when you think about all the new talent showcased here – the Bassment Crew, and oh yeah, freaking JAY Z, this soundtrack was like a high school yearbook of the future of hip-hop and R&B.

Were you surprised that none of these songs were played in the film?

Derrick: Not really. Even back in the 90s, I was a faithful reader of Entertainment Weekly and remember reading that none of the soundtrack songs would appear in the movie.

Edd: Nah, because that was often the case in that era. Sometimes we MIGHT get a snippet of a track in the film, or more likely, a couple will play over the credits. But the soundtracks were usually independent of the feature itself, which is cool. They existed in our own little musical universe.

How criminial is it that Dos of Soul and Da Bassment never dropped albums?

Derrick: Very. “Come Around” was a full-fledged bop, and I would have loved to see where Dos of Soul would have gone creatively as neo-soul was starting to emerge. As for Da Bassment, I still wonder what happened if they came out with an album and just how much bigger the would have gotten.

Edd: Scalding hot take – I’m perfectly OK with not getting a Bassment album. I know the thought of having a pre-fame Supafriends album seems like a dream (especially for me, their biggest stan) but I’m not sure how much creative control they’d have at that point. I’m sure it would be good, but not as groundbreaking as Supa Dupa Fly or Welcome to Our World. Dos of Soul, though, absolutely deserved more. As Derrick mentioned, there was no neo-soul group at the time and they could have lead that emerging movement.

What was better – The Nutty Professor movie or its soundtrack?

Derrick: Honestly, I have the soundtrack and movie about even. I actually enjoy Nutty Professor II and its soundtrack as well, but the original soundtrack feels more laid back and organic.

Edd: I feel you, Derrick – the movie is actually pretty good. But it’s one of those films I saw once, maybe twice, and never bothered with again. The soundtrack? That thing has been in rotation for 25 years and there’s no sign of letting up. Gotta go with the soundtrack here.

Where would you rank The Nutty Professor among 90s soundtracks?

Derrick: The Nutty Professor isn’t quite in the conversation with Waiting to Exhale, Boomerang, Above the Rim, or The Bodyguard. Those are all-time classics. That said, I’d comfortably place it in my Top 20 soundtracks of the decade.

Edd: FUNNY YOU ASK. Last year, I ranked 50 of ‘em just for you.

And judging by that list, you can see I hold The Nutty Professor in the highest of regards. Landing in the top five in such a stacked decade proves just how special this release really is.

And now it’s your turn. Are you siding with Edd or Derrick? Be sure to share your Nutty Professor memories below.