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It'd be inaccurate to call Will Smith's third album the musical equivalent of Ali -- a bid for artistic credibility from an artist so assured and smooth, it's been easy to pigeonhole him as merely a pop artist -- but given the range and harder edge on Born to Reign, it's hard not to think of it at first. Make no mistake, this is not as serious as Ali, nor is it a record whose first intent is to enlighten and educate (this is not a KRS-One or Wyclef Jean project). It's a fun, pop-leaning record, much like his first two records, and never is it afraid to return to the sounds and styles that brought the former Fresh Prince (deserved) big hits, but among comfortably familiar jams, Smith stretches his legs. Some of the hip-hop hits harder; there's a touch of reggae; he even appropriates a bit of a Ricky Martin vibe on "I Can't Stop." It's a small but significant change, and while it doesn't result in a record that flows as effortlessly, or giddily, as Willennium, it's easy to appreciate the effort to stretch, because even if all the experiments aren't necessarily successful (sometimes, the idea is better than the execution), it does reinvigorate the Smith signature pop-rap sound (apart, oddly, from the theme for Men in Black 2, "Black Suits Comin'," the only cut in this vein to fall flat), and results in another solid record from Smith. Maybe not as consistent as its predecessors, but still enjoyable in its familiar turf, while provoking admiration for its ambition, even when it's not always satisfying. Not a bad way to stretch. [This is a copy-protected disc, which on the average computer doesn't mean that you simply can't copy the disc -- it means that it will freeze your computer if you just want to listen to it via your CD-Rom. Not realizing this, I lost work when trying to write and listen at the same time, so buyer beware.]
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Rick Rock, Producer - Rick Rock, Composer - Rick Rock, Lyricist - Derek Nakamoto, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Knowledge, Vocal - O. Banga, Vocal - Tim & Bob, Producer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Emil Schult, Composer - Emil Schult, Lyricist - Ralph Hutter, Composer - Ralph Hutter, Lyricist - Bob Robinson, Composer - Bob Robinson, Lyricist - Richard Iverson, Composer - Richard Iverson, Lyricist - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Tim Kelley, Engineer - Tim Kelley, Composer - Tim Kelley, Lyricist - Andy Haller, Engineer - Omarr Rambert, Composer - Omarr Rambert, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
David Campbell, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Producer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - N. Reyes, Composer - N. Reyes, Lyricist - Jean Claude Olivier, Composer - Jean Claude Olivier, Lyricist - Luis Conte, Percussion - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Bryan Golder, Engineer - Chandler Bridges, Engineer - Samuel Barnes, Composer - Samuel Barnes, Lyricist - Poke and Tone, Producer - Richard Iverson, Composer - Richard Iverson, Lyricist - Brandon Duncan, Engineer - F. Reyes, Composer - F. Reyes, Lyricist - Manitas De Plata, Composer - Manitas De Plata, Lyricist - Annas Allaf, Guitar
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Will Smith, Performer - N/A, Producer - N/A, Mixing Engineer - N/A, Engineer - Spoken Word, Composer - Spoken Word, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Marlon L. McClain, Composer - Marlon L. McClain, Lyricist - David Campbell, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Producer - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Bass - 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 BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Arthur Brisby, Composer - Arthur Brisby, Lyricist - Jackie Members, Composer - Jackie Members, Lyricist - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - Rob Chiarelli, Guitar - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Bass - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - Ramon Adams, Composer - Ramon Adams, Lyricist - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Theron Benymon, Composer - Theron Benymon, Lyricist - Robert Poindexter, Composer - Robert Poindexter, Lyricist - Tony Dofat, Producer - Tony Dofat, Composer - Tony Dofat, Lyricist - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Ray Lewis, Composer - Ray Lewis, Lyricist - Richard Poindexter, Composer - Richard Poindexter, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - David Campbell, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Producer - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Bass - Ron Feemster, Producer - Ron Feemster, Keyboards - Ron Feemster, Composer - Ron Feemster, Lyricist - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - DJ Am, Scratches - Will Smith, Producer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Mixing Engineer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Chandler Bridges, Engineer - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Li'l John Roberts, Drums - TRÂ-Knox, Background Vocal - TRÂ-Knox, Performer - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Mark Sparks, Producer - Mark Sparks, Composer - Mark Sparks, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Arthur Brisby, Composer - Arthur Brisby, Lyricist - Cenac Maurice Benjamin, Composer - Cenac Maurice Benjamin, Lyricist - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - Ramon Adams, Composer - Ramon Adams, Lyricist - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Rico Anderson, Producer - Rico Anderson, Programmer - Rico Anderson, Composer - Rico Anderson, Lyricist - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Theron Benymon, Composer - Theron Benymon, Lyricist - John Kaplan, Engineer
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Robert Ginyard, Jr., Composer - Robert Ginyard, Jr., Lyricist - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Nora Payne, Background Vocal - Nora Payne, Composer - Nora Payne, Lyricist - DJ Am, Performer - DJ Am, Scratches - Leshan Lewis, Composer - Leshan Lewis, Lyricist - Sylvester Stewart, Composer - Sylvester Stewart, Lyricist - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Chandler Bridges, Engineer - L.E.S., Producer - Herb Middleton, Producer - Herb Middleton, Composer - Herb Middleton, Lyricist - Richard Iverson, Composer - Richard Iverson, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Arthur Brisby, Composer - Arthur Brisby, Lyricist - MASON WILLIAMS, Composer - MASON WILLIAMS, Lyricist - Tim & Bob, Producer - Ramon Adams, Composer - Ramon Adams, Lyricist - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Theron Benymon, Composer - Theron Benymon, Lyricist - Bob Robinson, Composer - Bob Robinson, Lyricist - Richard Iverson, Composer - Richard Iverson, Lyricist - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Tim Kelley, Engineer - Tim Kelley, Composer - Tim Kelley, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kel Spencer, Vocal - Arthur Brisby, Composer - Arthur Brisby, Lyricist - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - David Campbell, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Producer - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Rob Chiarelli, Mixing Engineer - Jimane Nelson, Composer - Jimane Nelson, Co-Producer - Jimane Nelson, Lyricist - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - Steve Churchyard, Engineer - Ramon Adams, Composer - Ramon Adams, Lyricist - Andy Narell, Drums - Luis Conte, Percussion - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Lyricist - Dominique Fillan, Engineer - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Theron Benymon, Composer - Theron Benymon, Lyricist - Abe Laboriel, Jr., Drums - Mark Sparks, Producer - Mark Sparks, Composer - Mark Sparks, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Arthur Brisby, Composer - Arthur Brisby, Lyricist - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - David Campbell, Arranger - Rob Chiarelli, Producer - Rob Chiarelli, Engineer - Erick Walls, Producer - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - Ramon Adams, Composer - Ramon Adams, Lyricist - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Theron Benymon, Composer - Theron Benymon, Lyricist - Dexter Simmons, Mixing Engineer - Jerry Allen, Producer - Mark Sparks, Producer - Mark Sparks, Composer - Mark Sparks, Lyricist
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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
Curtis Wilson, Composer - Curtis Wilson, Lyricist - Sauce, Producer - Lennie Bennett, Composer - Lennie Bennett, Lyricist - Will Smith, Performer - Will Smith, Composer - Will Smith, Lyricist - LeMar Bennett, Composer - LeMar Bennett, Lyricist - Lance Bennett, Composer - Lance Bennett, Lyricist - Chandler Bridges, Engineer - Dexter Simmons, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Album review
It'd be inaccurate to call Will Smith's third album the musical equivalent of Ali -- a bid for artistic credibility from an artist so assured and smooth, it's been easy to pigeonhole him as merely a pop artist -- but given the range and harder edge on Born to Reign, it's hard not to think of it at first. Make no mistake, this is not as serious as Ali, nor is it a record whose first intent is to enlighten and educate (this is not a KRS-One or Wyclef Jean project). It's a fun, pop-leaning record, much like his first two records, and never is it afraid to return to the sounds and styles that brought the former Fresh Prince (deserved) big hits, but among comfortably familiar jams, Smith stretches his legs. Some of the hip-hop hits harder; there's a touch of reggae; he even appropriates a bit of a Ricky Martin vibe on "I Can't Stop." It's a small but significant change, and while it doesn't result in a record that flows as effortlessly, or giddily, as Willennium, it's easy to appreciate the effort to stretch, because even if all the experiments aren't necessarily successful (sometimes, the idea is better than the execution), it does reinvigorate the Smith signature pop-rap sound (apart, oddly, from the theme for Men in Black 2, "Black Suits Comin'," the only cut in this vein to fall flat), and results in another solid record from Smith. Maybe not as consistent as its predecessors, but still enjoyable in its familiar turf, while provoking admiration for its ambition, even when it's not always satisfying. Not a bad way to stretch. [This is a copy-protected disc, which on the average computer doesn't mean that you simply can't copy the disc -- it means that it will freeze your computer if you just want to listen to it via your CD-Rom. Not realizing this, I lost work when trying to write and listen at the same time, so buyer beware.]
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:39
- Main artists: Will Smith
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B
(P) 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT WARNING: All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
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