Will Smith Album: “Big Willie Style [CD/Cassette]”

It is no doubt the Artist formerly known as Fresh Prince has achied major success in the last couple of years, both in music and movies. Many people, like myself didn't know he was actually a rapper already before the hit show "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" which will be a classic. He was one of the first pioneers of rap in the 80's and had a big hit called "Parents Just Dont Understand." His work was produced by his co-parter DJ Jazzy Jeff. Almost a decade later, "Big Willie Style" marks his triumphant return to the world of Hip Hop and suprisingly Pop. Due to the "hardcore"lessness of this album Will has been accused by some Hip Hop listners as not "real rap" when in fact he was one of the first. Yes he doesnt swear and wouldn't be called the stereotypical "hardcore" rappers you'll find, such as DMX. Does that mean he's a *bad* rapper? Of course not! This album was multi-platnum for a reason. No one can resist till this day gettin up to the dance floor when the clubs play the now old-school "Gettin Jiggy Wit it." I found myself chanting "na na na na na na" again and again everytime I hear it. The first number "Ya'll Know" is classic Hip Hop at it's best. Keyboard chords along with light scatting and Will's raps are great. Fans of Mariah Carey's mild hit "Loverboy" will enjoy "Candy" which features the same song by old-school group Cameo. I love the song "Chasing Forever" featuring the group Jagged Edge, who make this song have more of a beautiful Gospel feel to it. The hit "Miami" will get anyone up and dancing with it's retro sound and extremely catchy chorus. My mom and I love the song "Just The Two of Us" because it has such a meaningful message to fathers and sons or in my case mothers and sons. I can tell by this song that Will m ust be a very good father and a good person in general. Last but not leased is of course the mega hit based on the movie by the same title called "Men in Black." A great mixture of Pop, R&B and Rap, it was a hit for a reason. Overall, don't let street hardcore rap fans deter you from checking out this multi-platnum album. It's worth the money and like me you will end up having it in your CD player often.

My introduction to this album and to Will Smith from a musical and not acting standpoint was when I took up hip-hop dance lessons years back and each week the instructor kept playing "Y'All Know" and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It". I thought those were great tracks and I'd heard from a colleague of mine who was going through a painful divorce who had a little son how much he loved and related to "Just the Two of Us" and I'd always liked Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots" a.k.a. the track Will ripped off to use as the music for "Men In Black" (trust me, the original is far, far better)and so I thought I had nothing to lose and so decided to take a chance and promptly got the cd.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find other great tracks such as "Miami" and the last track "Just Cruisin'" which for some reason isn't listed among the tracks above. I've always liked albums that flowed and sounded cohesive from first to last and the humorous interludes with Keith B Real is a great device which achieves this brilliantly. The sound quality is also very good and so is Will's rapping. His lyrics on "Just the Two of Us" are simply brilliant and anyone with kids, mums and dads alike, can relate to what is clearly heartfelt, unconditional love of parent for child that's so eloquently expressed on this track.

Who says rap has to be violent and vulgar? Will shows here that he can still rap among the best of them. Highly recommended for lovers of rap and hip-hop with a pinch of humour added on for good measure.

Okay, I'm an almost-40 white guy in the Heartland. My idea of great music runs from Talking Heads and Elvis Costello to Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper. What do I think of "Big Willie Style"? Well, I agree with corny ("Candy"). I agree with safe ("I loved you"). And I agree very strongly with sincere ("Just the 2 of us"). I've got a 5-year old son. I get a lump in my throat when I hear that song, because it is REAL. The most important thing is that it's just plain fun. I get teased for listening to it, but I can't help it--it's addictive. Good, clean fun. I can't relate to poppin' a cap in some gangsta, but I can enjoy rap. Some of Will's messages hit home (you don't need to be a movie star to appreciate the advice in "Don't say nothin'"), but all his raps are fun! Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go get jiggy wit it.

I have always wondered why Will Smith is so popular. Hollywood perhaps? Let's not forget about those Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy albums. Will Smith cannot rap his way out of a paper bag. His voice is dull and thin sounding, which he has to compensate for by double-tracking his voice quite often. The material is lightweight - if I listen to rap I want to hear some bold remarks, but Will Smith's third-grade vocabulary and stories don't impress me at all. Musically, there are no original beats or samples - everything rips off an old disco hit. The lyrics at times can be cheesy and sickeningly sweet - listen to "Just The Two Of Us" and you'll know what I mean. This is candy-coated rap that absolutely anyone with even below adequate rhyming skills can perform. Will Smith should definitely have kept his day job. This uninspired trite mess is no match for the likes of Busta Rhymes or Mystikal. This CD is absolutely unlistenable - avoid it at all costs.

Um, Amy, what ghetto are you from? Suburban Pennsylvania? Get a reality check. You can't talk junk till you live through it, and I don't think our dear darling sweetheart Amy has lived through anything worse than some 8th grade hair style teasing. You don't even know what hip-hop is. Its not eminem, or Snoop Dogg. Its a way of life, a way of thinking and livin. If someone accuses Will Smith of being a sellout, then they need to step back and look at themself.