Will Smith, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, is making a return to his first love—music. While many recognize him as the Oscar-winning actor and global box office sensation, fewer remember that before The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and his Hollywood success, Smith was a hip-hop pioneer and El Pais takes us down memory lane about the hit maker’s storied career. His was the first hip hop act to win a Grammy award as part of a crew with DJ Jazzy Jeff and his debut solo album Big Willie Style is certified 9x Platinum in the U.S. for sales and streams surpassing 9 million units as of July 20, 2000.
His music helped bring rap into the mainstream, with Jay-Z declaring on the B2K Freestyle “Kill Shit till he catch Will Smith.” Now, after a 20-year hiatus, Smith is stepping back into the music scene to remind the world of his rap legacy with a new album “Based On A True Story.”
From Hip-Hop Star to Hollywood Icon
Smith began rapping at the age of 12 with a distinctive style—clean, humorous, and narrative-driven. His refusal to use profanity in his lyrics was a personal choice influenced by his grandmother. As he shared in a 2020 interview with Seth Meyers, she once wrote in his rap notebook: “Truly intelligent people do not have to use words like this to express themselves. Please show the world that you’re as smart as we think you are. Love, Gigi.”
This ethos became a hallmark of his music when he teamed up with DJ Jazzy Jeff. The duo’s first single, Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble, released in 1986, showcased Smith’s playful storytelling ability. Their 1988 album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper made history as the first double album in hip-hop and sold over 2.5 million copies. The duo also won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 with Parents Just Don’t Understand, solidifying their mainstream appeal.
Despite their commercial success, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince were sometimes criticized for being too soft compared to the rising hardcore rap movement. Yet, their impact on hip-hop was undeniable. Francisco Eson Ntue, a veteran Spanish hip-hop journalist, remarked, “They brought a lot of freshness and versatility to the scene. Their influence was very beneficial and inspiring.”
The Fresh Prince and a Changing Career
As Smith’s music career flourished, he faced financial trouble, leading him to take on a starring role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The sitcom, which ran from 1990 to 1996, became a cultural phenomenon and played a crucial role in introducing hip-hop culture to mainstream American audiences.
Even as his acting career took off, Smith continued releasing music. His 1991 album Homebase featured Summertime, one of his biggest hits. By the late ’90s, he transitioned into solo music under his real name, achieving major commercial success with Men in Black, Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It, and Wild Wild West. However, many felt his music had become more commercial and tailored to his Hollywood persona, a shift humorously mocked in a Family Guy sketch portraying his “clean rap” style.
A Long-Awaited Return
Though Will Smith hasn’t released an album since 2005’s Lost and Found, which featured Elephant Man on Switch remix, he never completely abandoned music. In 2017, he reunited with DJ Jazzy Jeff to drop Get Lit, and in 2018, he hopped on Live It Up by Nicky Jam feat. Era Istrefi for the Official Song Russian World Cup song where performed at the closing ceremony. Now, after two decades, Smith is preparing a full-fledged comeback. He has described his upcoming project as his “most personal album,” which comes three years after he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars for making fun of his wife Jada Pinkett- Smith.
Whether his comeback will be embraced by today’s hip-hop audience remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The Fresh Prince seem to is ready to take the mic once again. On Thursday, he delivered an emotional performance at The House of Blues in Las Vegas, embracing his “Wild Wild West” persona and performing classic hits like Men in Black and Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It. The crowd went wild as he tossed his cowboy hat into the audience and gave a heartfelt shoutout to his mother. He also paid tribute to his late Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery, shedding tears on stage.
Based On A True Story will be available March 28, 2025.
