Will Smith was troubled by the escalating violence associated with hip-hop and the tragic deaths of Tupac and biggie. Frankly he was unsure of his role. That was a large part of why I didn’t make a record, Will Smith explain s “It was like I don’t even wanna rhyme. I made records in my crib. I through that if it is what the world is going to, then I don’t think that there is any place for me. On his very first solo album, Big Willie style Will Smith boldly takes a seat at the table. From his very first steps, Smith’s life has been a Capra-esque screenplay.
A native of west Philadelphia, Will Smith ll was born to a working-class household, his father a refrigeration engineer; his mother, a school administrator. As a grade scholar, Will Smith began hearing faint rumblings from up north, the Big Apple, more. Specifically the Bronx. Eager to duplicate these sounds he becomes a student of rhyme. I bought my first rap record when I was twelve, I guess that was 1980 when Sugarhil Records and Enjoy Records were all there was Will Smith recalls.
If I didn’t have either one of those labels then there was no need to buy it. Early on parents championed Will Smith and Jeff over parental Advisory branded hip-hip, inevitably broadening their appeal, as well as their fan base. Dubbed a soft-core rap act the preternaturally gifted will and Jeff made the Industry as a whole sit up and take notice. The infectious entertainment value of Will Smith’s stage persona did not go unnoticed.
Hollywood would soon be knocking. After Will Smith met media impresario Quickly Jones a new television sitcom was born the enormously successful The Fresh Prince Bel-Air. Loosely based on the contours of Will Smith’s own personality-wisecracking Philly kid makes good- The fresh prince had a highly rated six-season run. Looking for new challenges the 25-year-old Will Smith expanded the range of his acting and entered the world of film.
He made his film debut in where the day takes you a gritty tale of L.A.’S homeless subculture. His next role was unabashed proof that a major new talent had a arrived. In an adaptation of the Broadway hit Six Degrees of Separation, will morphed into Paul, a gay street hustler, who convinces a family of blue-bloods that he’s the son of Sidney Poitier. Reviews of Will Smith’s performance were stellar. More screen action lay ahead. For Boys, a testosterone-fueled jaunt through Miami’s backstreets, he buds-died up with comedian Martin Lawrence.
The best-selling Men in black soundtrack put Will Smith back on the map as recording artist: his raucous rapping single of the title track was an international global smash whole wills rock video for the tune walked off with the MTV video music Award for best video From A Motion Picture. In the months ahead Will begins lensing Enemy of the State, an action-thriller slated for a summer 98 release.
Faith, family friendship and the need for a challenge are the forces that continue to drive this fresh-faced wild-styled kid from Philly. He was confounded naysayers throughout his career. Big the top of his game. Music is the most difficult creative form, says Will Smith Music is like a baby you gotta nurture it, and every second of your life has to be dedicating to the music. It’s really a huge undertaking.
