Product Description

High points in this smoothly produced debut solo effort from the rapper formerly known as Fresh Prince include his occasional moments of tenderness, especially "Just the Two of Us", on which Smith addresses his young son against a sample of Bill Withers's song of the same name: "From the first timethe doctor placed you in my arms/I knew I'd meet death 'fore I let you meet harm". Smith reveals another hint of vulnerability on "Forever", when he describes his girlfriend: "She...makes me feel that forever is a possibility".
What distinguishes BIG WILLIE STYLE, though, are the same playful mood and nimble rhymes that characterised Smith's DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince days. He describes his modus operandi onthe lyrically dexterous "Yes, Yes Y'all:" "I rip rhymes forthe flow of it/you know the show of it/not the Benz 600 four-door of it/I'm-a rhyme regardless of earnin' long as my heart keeps yearnin'/I got's to keep burnin'".

Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Y'all Know
3. Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
4. Candy - Smith, Will & Larry Blackmon/Cameo
5. Chasing Forever
6. Keith B Real
7. Don't Say Nothin'
8. Miami
9. Yes Yes Y'all - Smith, Will & Camp Lo
10. I Loved You
11. Keith B Real
12. It's All Good
13. Just The Two Of Us
14. Keith B Real
15. Big Willie Style - Smith, Will & Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopez
16. Men In Black
17. Just Cruisin'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17989 in Music
• Released on: 2001-08-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Is Will Smith an important rapper? The kind that deserves the awards, the honors, the accolades that the music industry foists upon him? Well, no. The words corny and safe might be applicable when describing the artist formerly known as the Fresh Prince. But dig this: corny and safe as he may be, why can't you stop singing "Getting Jiggy Wit It" or why does your child love "Just the Two of Us", Smith's shameless ode to dads and their kids? Probably because Smith is nothing if not sincere. Yes, the tracks are obvious and leaden, and, no, Method Man won't have any sleepless nights when Smith lets loose with a rhyme. But give him this: Smith comes from the culture, even if he long ago left the streets. --Amy Linden

Customer Reviews

The inimitable Will Smith
Alot of hip-hop heads hate Will Smith, but I'm not really sure why. I love a good many MCs, from Common, Pharoahe Monch, Tribe, Kane and Rakim all the way through to Aesop Rock, Saul Williams, Jehst and the CunninLynguists, and although Smith doesn't offer most of the things that make the aforementioned acts great, he brings his own inimitable style to the table.

This a brilliant feel-good album, loaded with great funky beats from Trackmasters Poke & Tone, L.E.S. and the Magnificent Jazzy Jeff, and some interesting subject matter. There are the club tunes (Miami, Gettin' Jiggy..), yeah, but also autobiographical stuff, a couple of love-related songs, an ode to his son, plenty of braggadocio (he has alot to brag about), and purely fun smile-and-nod tunes.

Smith has a pleasant voice, natural flow, an electric personality, and generally intelligent lyrics, not feeling the need to swear all the time like other mainstream acts or complain all the time like today's indy MCs; he doesn't spend time berating other MCs for being repetitive and boring, thus escaping the trap that these other MCs always fall into. Even the chart-topping club tunes offer more interesting lyrics than much of today's self-obsessed hip-hop and pop music. Smith writes about things that matter to him, but also subjects of general interest; when he mentions his successes, they're only things that any other MC would write about if they could.

This is considered pop-rap, but if it wasn't popular, it would just be considered good fun hip-hop with great beats. Don't dismiss it because of the labels.

Will the Great
Will Smith is a true living legend. All the films, TV series, music etc he has done is crazy. This album is another gooden from him. It still doesn't seem to get old or boring no matter how many times you listen to it. Has classics that could still be released today. Bar the interview skits every track is worth a track. His style may not be street but it will move your feet!!!

A first class album from a first class bloke!
This album is great! The songs have you dancing 'round your bedroom singing along in to your hairbrush! I love all of the songs, listen carefully to the lyrics on candy, they are kinda funny! A must for all will fans!