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In retrospect, the point at which Will Smith went too far was with 1999's "Freakin' It," on which, over samples from "Love Hangover" and "Rapper's Delight," he boasted of his movie earnings, defended himself against charges of being a "soft" rapper, and criticized his peers. It was hard to dispute any of his arguments (though the citation of the American Music Awards as an example of his superiority seemed a bit of a stretch), but the song also emphasized -- in the wrong way, as far as fans were concerned -- how far Smith had come from Philadelphia, and it flopped. After that, his movies and records had to struggle more for attention. All careers go through peaks and troughs, however, and this collection of Smith's musical high points makes the case for his popularity, dating back to the late-'80s days of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, whose work is licensed from Jive Records for one-third of the tracks here. Not all of the early duo's hits are included, but the signature ones, particularly the breakout "Parents Just Don't Understand," are. In a sense, this is Smith at his most appealing, using rap to create novelty records that reveal the comic sense that later would light up movie screens. He remains engaging through solo hits like "Men in Black" and "Getting' Jiggy Wit It," even if he already seems to be starting to believe his press clips. By this point, the musical career has become an appendage of the movie career, and movie stardom begins to inform the raps, culminating in the defensiveness of "Freakin' It." Along the way, however, there is some clever writing, always put across by Smith's expansive personality, which enabled him to swim against the current of contemporary rap, at least for a time.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Will Smith, Performer - Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo, Engineer - J. Townes, Composer - J. Townes, Lyricist - William Smith, Composer - William Smith, Lyricist - Hugh Montenegro, Composer - Hugh Montenegro, Lyricist - Jazzy Jeff, Producer - Fresh Prince, Producer - BUDDY KAYE, Composer - BUDDY KAYE, Lyricist
1987 Zomba Productions Ltd.
P. Harris, Lyricist - P. Harris, Composer - Jeffrey Townes, Composer - Jeffrey Townes, Lyricist - Bryan "Chuck" New, Producer - Bryan "Chuck" New, Mixing Engineer - Bryan "Chuck" New, Recording Engineer - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Performer - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Producer - Pete Q. Harris, Producer - W. Smith, Composer - W. Smith, Lyricist
(P) 1988 Zomba Recording LLC
P. Harris, Lyricist - P. Harris, Composer - Jeffrey Townes, Composer - Jeffrey Townes, Lyricist - Bryan "Chuck" New, Producer - Bryan "Chuck" New, Recording Engineer - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Producer - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Performer - Pete Q. Harris, Producer - W. Smith, Composer - W. Smith, Lyricist
(P) 1988 Zomba Recording LLC
Jeffrey Townes, Composer - Jeffrey Townes, Lyricist - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Performer - DJ Jazzy Jeff, Producer - W. Smith, Composer - W. Smith, Lyricist
(P) 1990 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Fingers, Producer - R. Mickens, Composer - R. Mickens, Lyricist - R. Bell, Composer - R. Bell, Lyricist - B. Thomas, Composer - B. Thomas, Lyricist - W. Smith, Lyricist - W. Smith, Composer - Richard Westfield, Lyricist - Richard Westfield, Composer - G. Brown, Composer - G. Brown, Lyricist - LaVette, Background Vocal - Chris Trevett, Recording Engineer - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Performer - Stephen George, Recording Engineer - Hula, Composer - Hula, Lyricist - Hula, Producer - C. Smith, Composer - C. Smith, Lyricist - K. Fingers, Composer - K. Fingers, Lyricist - A. Taylor, Composer - A. Taylor, Lyricist
(P) 1991 Sony Music Entertainment
Nasir Jones, Composer - Nasir Jones, Lyricist - Ken Ifill, Engineer - John Shriver, Engineer - Ann Carli, Executive Producer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - James Lassiter, Executive Producer - Benny Medina, Executive Producer - Tichina Arnold, Background Vocal - Poke and Tone, Producer - Poke and Tone, Drum Programmer - Kenneth Stover, Composer - Kenneth Stover, Lyricist - Herb Powers, Mastering Engineer - Tony Maserati, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1997 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Marlon L. McClain, Composer - Marlon L. McClain, Lyricist - David Campbell, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Producer - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Bass - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Jean Claude Olivier, Composer - Jean Claude Olivier, Lyricist - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Samuel Barnes, Composer - Samuel Barnes, Lyricist - Poke and Tone, Producer - Will Smith Featuring Jada, Performer - Luther Vandross, Composer - Luther Vandross, Lyricist - Michael D. Hepburn, Composer - Michael D. Hepburn, Lyricist - Jamie Muhoberac, Keyboards - Annas Allaf, Guitar - Jada Pinkett-Smith, Composer - Jada Pinkett-Smith, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Ann Carli, Executive Producer - F. Washington, Composer - F. Washington, Lyricist - John Shriver, Recording Engineer - T. McFadden, Lyricist - T. McFadden, Composer - Coko (aka Cheryl Gamble), Background Vocal - Commissioner Gordon, Mixing Engineer - Terry McFadden, Composer - Terry McFadden, Lyricist - Coko, Background Vocal - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Fred Washington, Composer - Fred Washington, Lyricist - Tony Maserati, Mixing Engineer - James Lassiter, Executive Producer - Poke and Tone, Producer - Poke and Tone, Drum Programmer - Poke and Tone, Executive Producer - William Smith, Lyricist - William Smith, Composer - P. Rushen, Composer - P. Rushen, Lyricist - Benny Medina, Executive Producer - Herb Powers, Mastering Engineer - Patrice Rushen, Composer - Patrice Rushen, Lyricist
(P) 1997 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
DJ Jazzy Jeff, Scratches - Ken "Duro" Ifill, Recording Engineer - Joe Robinson, Composer - Joe Robinson, Lyricist - Nile Rodgers, Composer - Nile Rodgers, Lyricist - Rich Travali, Mixing Engineer - Ann Carli, Executive Producer - Les, Co-Producer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Vocal - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Lanar "Kern" Brantley, Guitar - James Lassiter, Executive Producer - Benny Medina, Executive Producer - Bernard Edwards, Composer - Bernard Edwards, Lyricist - David Foreman, Guitar - Poke and Tone, Producer - Poke and Tone, Executive Producer - Timothy "Tyme" Riley, Keyboards - Chris Riband, 2nd Engineer - Samuel J. Barnes, Composer - Samuel J. Barnes, Lyricist
(P) 1997 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
William. Shelby, Composer - William. Shelby, Lyricist - Ryan Toby, Composer - Ryan Toby, Lyricist - Ken Ifill, Recording Engineer - Rich Travali, Mixing Engineer - Ann Carli, Executive Producer - Stephen Shockley, Composer - Stephen Shockley, Lyricist - Les, Producer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - James Lassiter, Executive Producer - L.E.S., Drum Programmer - Benny Medina, Executive Producer - Leon Sylvers III, Composer - Leon Sylvers III, Lyricist - Poke and Tone, Producer - Poke and Tone, Executive Producer - Keith Winfield, Keyboards - Samuel J. Barnes, Composer - Samuel J. Barnes, Lyricist - Robert Burnette, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1997 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Mai Huggins, Background Vocal - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - Nile Rodgers, Composer - Nile Rodgers, Lyricist - Kevin Crouse, Recording Engineer - Kevin Crouse, Drums - Rich Travali, Mixing Engineer - Reggie Parker, Acoustic Bass - Jean Claude Olivier, Composer - Jean Claude Olivier, Lyricist - Pamela Joan Sawyer, Composer - Pamela Joan Sawyer, Lyricist - Marilyn McLeod, Composer - Marilyn McLeod, Lyricist - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Nunzio Signore, Guitar - Bernard Edwards, Composer - Bernard Edwards, Lyricist - Samuel Barnes, Composer - Samuel Barnes, Lyricist - Poke and Tone, Producer - Bugsy, Background Vocal - The Love Fellowship Tabernacle Children's Choir, Vocal
(P) 1999 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Joel Hailey, Composer - Joel Hailey, Lyricist - Michael Goods, Keyboards - Michael Goods, Recording Engineer - Cedric R. Hailey, Composer - Cedric R. Hailey, Lyricist - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - Kevin Crouse, Recording Engineer - John Mellor, Composer - John Mellor, Lyricist - Rich Travali, Mixing Engineer - Will Smith Featuring K-Ci, Performer - Michael Jones, Composer - Michael Jones, Lyricist - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Tye-V Turman, Background Vocal - Darren Henson, Composer - Darren Henson, Lyricist - Bobby Robinson, Composer - Bobby Robinson, Lyricist - Nicholas Headon, Composer - Nicholas Headon, Lyricist - Jazzy Jeff, Scratches - Poke and Tone, Producer - Poke and Tone, Keyboards - Poke and Tone, Programmer
(P) 1999 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mohandas Dewese, Composer - Mohandas Dewese, Lyricist - Arty Skye, Recording Engineer - Stevie Wonder, Composer - Stevie Wonder, Lyricist - Rob Chiarelli, Recording Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Arranger - Mark Wilson, Producer - Dru Hill, Performer - Dru Hill, Vocal - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Rob Fusari, Producer - Rob Fusari, Composer - Rob Fusari, Lyricist - Kool Mo Dee, Vocal - Kool Mo Dee, Performer - Herb Powers, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Re-Mixer - Ron Feemster, Composer - Ron Feemster, Lyricist - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - Gregg Pagani, Re-Mixer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Sean Tallman, 2nd Engineer - Mar'Laina Kemp, Background Vocal - Herb Powers, Mastering Engineer - Will Smith Featuring Christina Vidal and Introducing TRÂ-KNOX, Performer - Mark Sparks, Composer - Mark Sparks, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sauce, Producer - Sauce, Performer - Fuzzy, Vocal - Fuzzy, Background Vocal - William Salter, Composer - William Salter, Lyricist - Ann Carli, Executive Producer - Ralph MacDonald, Composer - Ralph MacDonald, Lyricist - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - James Lassiter, Executive Producer - Trisha Covington, Background Vocal - Benny Medina, Executive Producer - Poke and Tone, Executive Producer - Bill Withers, Composer - Bill Withers, Lyricist
(P) 1997 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Albumbeschreibung
In retrospect, the point at which Will Smith went too far was with 1999's "Freakin' It," on which, over samples from "Love Hangover" and "Rapper's Delight," he boasted of his movie earnings, defended himself against charges of being a "soft" rapper, and criticized his peers. It was hard to dispute any of his arguments (though the citation of the American Music Awards as an example of his superiority seemed a bit of a stretch), but the song also emphasized -- in the wrong way, as far as fans were concerned -- how far Smith had come from Philadelphia, and it flopped. After that, his movies and records had to struggle more for attention. All careers go through peaks and troughs, however, and this collection of Smith's musical high points makes the case for his popularity, dating back to the late-'80s days of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, whose work is licensed from Jive Records for one-third of the tracks here. Not all of the early duo's hits are included, but the signature ones, particularly the breakout "Parents Just Don't Understand," are. In a sense, this is Smith at his most appealing, using rap to create novelty records that reveal the comic sense that later would light up movie screens. He remains engaging through solo hits like "Men in Black" and "Getting' Jiggy Wit It," even if he already seems to be starting to believe his press clips. By this point, the musical career has become an appendage of the movie career, and movie stardom begins to inform the raps, culminating in the defensiveness of "Freakin' It." Along the way, however, there is some clever writing, always put across by Smith's expansive personality, which enabled him to swim against the current of contemporary rap, at least for a time.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:04
- Main artists: Will Smith
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B
(P) 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 Zomba Recording LLC, 1997 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., 1997, 1999, 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
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