Big Willie Style

Big Willie Style
Studio album by Will Smith
Released	November 25, 1997 (1997-11-25)
Recorded	1996–97
Studio	The Hit Factory (New York City, New York) Right Track Studios (New York City, New York) A Touch of Jazz Studios (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) The Hacienda (Los Angeles, California) Pacifique Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	East Coast hip hop pop rap dance pop
Label	Columbia
Producer	Poke & Tone (also exec.) L.E.S. Will Smith Jeff Townes Keith Pelzer Ryan Toby Andreao Heard Valvin Roane Sauce
Will Smith chronology
Big Willie Style (1997) Willennium (1999)
Singles from Big Willie Style
"Men in Black" Released: June 16, 1997 "Just Cruisin'" Released: December 1, 1997 "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" Released: January 27, 1998 "Just the Two of Us" Released: July 20, 1998 "Miami" Released: November 23, 1998

Big Willie Style is the debut studio album by American rapper Will Smith. It was released on November 25, 1997, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions took place from 1996 to 1997, with a range of several record producers that Will was working with such as Poke & Tone and his former collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff on the album. The album reached the top ten on both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart, and later became a certified multi-platinum in a number of regions and countries. The album was supported by five singles: "Men in Black", "Just Cruisin'", "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Just the Two of Us" and "Miami".

After releasing five albums as part of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Smith turned his focus to acting, starring in films such as Bad Boys and Independence Day. During the same period he recorded his first solo album, including the single "Men in Black", which is the theme song to the film of the same name, which topped singles charts in a number of countries. Big Willie Style went on to become Smith's most commercially successful album, earning him a number of music awards and nominations.

Recording and production

Recording for Big Willie Style took place mainly in New York City – four tracks ("Y'All Know", "Chasing Forever", "Miami" and "Just Cruisin'") were recorded at The Hit Factory, and four tracks ("Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Candy", "Yes Yes Y'All" and "Big Willie Style") were recorded at Right Track Studios.^[1] Three tracks ("Don't Say Nothin'", "I Loved You" and "It's All Good") were recorded at DJ Jazzy Jeff's A Touch of Jazz Studios, in Smith's hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and "Just the Two of Us" was recorded at Pacifique Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California.^[1] Production in New York City was shared mainly between Poke & Tone and L.E.S., while DJ Jazzy Jeff produced the Philadelphia tracks; "Just the Two of Us" was produced by Curtis "Sauce" Wilson.^[1] Other contributing producers were Keith Pelzer, Ryan Toby (both on "Don't Say Nothin'" and "I Loved You"), Andreao Heard ("Y'All Know") and Valvin Roane ("I Loved You").^[1]

The songs on the album are broken up by a number of interludes featuring exchanges between Smith and the fictional character Keith B-Real, an "hilarious" magazine editor and motivational-tape artist.^[2] B-Real is voiced by actor Jamie Foxx.^[3] All four of the "Keith B-Real" skits (including "Intro") were recorded by Jean-Claude Olivier – Poke of Poke & Tone – at The Hacienda in Los Angeles, California, and co-produced by Smith.^[1]

Composition

Lyrics

As with Smith's previous releases with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Big Willie Style showcases a radio-friendly pop-rap sound with non-explicit lyrics.^[4] Speaking about the lyrics on Big Willie Style, Jamie Hunter of Rolling Stone noted that on the album Smith "takes pains to make clear that there is indeed life beyond the bottom line"; songs on the album feature themes of multiculturalism and monogamy, and see Smith telling "the larger story of rap values tweaking the American dream, of how he's come to terms with the conflict between the neighborhood and the global cineplex".^[2]

Music

The musical production on Big Willie Style is focused largely around samples of disco and soul music acts from the 1980s;^[2][4] artists sampled include Sister Sledge ("He's the Greatest Dancer" on "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"), Stevie Wonder ("Ribbon in the Sky" on "Chasing Forever"), and The Whispers ("And the Beat Goes On" on "Miami").^[1]

Promotion and release

The release of Big Willie Style was preceded by the single "Men in Black" in June 1997, originally released on Men in Black: The Album. The title track to the film of the same name was a commercial success, topping singles charts in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom,^[5] where it remained atop the chart for four weeks.^[6] "Just Cruisin'" was released as the album's second single in December, charting at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart.^[6]

In January 1998, "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" was released as the third single from the album to great commercial success – it became the first single by Smith to top the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,^[7] and also reached the top ten in numerous other regions. "Just the Two of Us" and "Miami" were the final two singles released from the album, and both enjoyed mild commercial success in the US by reaching the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100;^[7] the singles were more successful in the UK, however, where they reached number two and number three on the UK Singles Chart, respectively.^[6]

Reception

Commercial

Big Willie Style was a commercial success. Reaching a peak position of number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, it remained on the chart for a total of 99 weeks.^[8] On the UK Albums Chart, the record entered at number 63 in December 1997, remaining in the top 100 for 29 weeks; in July the following year the album returned to the top 100, and by January 1999 it had reached its peak position of number nine.^[6] In total, the album spent 87 weeks in the UK top 100, during three separate periods.^[6] Other regions in which the album peaked in the top ten include France (#5), Norway (#8) and the Netherlands (#9).^[9][10] In 1999, Billboard reported that Big Willie Style had been the 39th best-selling pop album of the period between 1990 and 1999.^[11]

By July 2000, Big Willie Style had been certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicating US sales of over nine million units.^[12] The album is also certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, indicating Australian sales of over 35,000 units,^[13] double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, indicating sales in the UK of over 600,000 units,^[14] and six times platinum by Music Canada, indicating Canadian sales of over 600,000 units.^[15]

Critical

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic[4]
Entertainment Weekly[16]	C–
Rolling Stone[2]

Media response to Big Willie Style was mixed. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of website AllMusic awarded the album four out of five stars, praising Smith's "trademark ... friendly, humorous pop-rap" style, which he pointed out had been modernised since his releases with DJ Jazzy Jeff.^[4] In particular, Erlewine highlighted the songs "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Candy", "I Loved You" and "Men in Black" as "among his best" songs.^[4] Rolling Stone writer James Hunter was similarly positive, describing the album as "wickedly well-conceived", praising the album's "delicious party jams" and noting "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" and "Yes Yes Y'All" as particular highlights.^[2] He concludes by praising the lyrical themes of the album, dubbing Big Willie Style "an exceptional megacelebrity album".^[2]

Entertainment Weekly writer Jim Farber, however, slated the album, describing it as being full of "nonstop pop-rap clichés" and claiming that "The musical world suffered no great loss when Will Smith ditched rapping for acting".^[16] Critic Robert Christgau categorised the singles "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Just the Two of Us" and "Miami" as "good [songs] on an album that isn't worth your time or money".^[17]

Accolades and awards

Big Willie Style earned Smith recognition at a number of music industry awards ceremonies. At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video for "Men in Black" won the award for Best Video from a Film, and received nominations for Best Male Video, Best Choreography and Best Special Effects.^[18] Smith won again at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving awards for Best Male Video and Best Rap Video for "Just the Two of Us" and "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", respectively, as well as nominations for Video of the Year, Best Dance Video, Best Choreography and Viewer's Choice, all for "Gettin' Jiggy wit It".^[19] "Miami" won the award for Best Male Video and received nominations for Best Special Effects and Best Cinematography at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.^[20]

Smith won his third and fourth Grammy Awards for his work on Big Willie Style – "Men in Black" won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards in February 1998,^[21] and Smith retained the award the following year at the 41st Grammy Awards, when he won for "Gettin' Jiggy wit It".^[22] At the 26th American Music Awards in January 1999, he was nominated in the categories of Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist (which he lost to Eric Clapton) and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist (which he won), while the album was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album, both of which it won.^[23] Also in 1999, Smith received three NAACP Image Awards – Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Music Video (for "Just the Two of Us") and Outstanding Rap Artist, and was named Favorite Singer at the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards.^[24]

In 2000, music television network VH1 compiled their 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, including Smith's Big Willie Style single "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" at number 100.^[25]

Track listing

Notes^[1]

• ^{^a} signifies a co-producer
• "Chasing Forever" features vocals by Kenny Greene and Trey Lorenz.
• "I Loved You" features vocals by Ryan Toby and Valvin Roane.
• "It's All Good" features vocals by Tia Mintze.
• "Just the Two of Us" features vocals by Fuzzy and Tricia Covington.
• "Men in Black" features vocals by Coko.
• "Just Cruisin' (Remix)" features vocals by Tichina Arnold.

Sample credits^[1]

• "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" contains a sample of "He's the Greatest Dancer", written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, performed by Sister Sledge; a sample of "Sang and Dance", written by David Porter, performed by The Bar-Kays; and a replay of "Love Rap", written by Joe Robinson, performed by Spoonie Gee.
• "Candy" contains a sample of "Candy", written by Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins, performed by Cameo.
• "Chasing Forever" contains a sample of "Ribbon in the Sky", written and performed by Stevie Wonder.
• "Miami" contains a sample of "And the Beat Goes On", written by William Shelby, Stephen Shockley and Leon Sylvers III, performed by The Whispers.
• "Yes Yes Y'All" contains a sample of "Here We Go Again", written by Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper, performed by The Isley Brothers; a replay of "All Around the World", written by Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, performed by Lisa Stansfield; a replay of "Yearning for Your Love", written by Oliver Scott and Ronnie Wilson, performed by The Gap Band; and a replay of "Love Rap", written by Joe Robinson, performed by Spoonie Gee.
• "I Loved You" contains a sample of "Upon This Rock", written and performed by Joe Farrell.
• "It's All Good" contains a sample of "Good Times", written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, performed by Chic; and a replay of "Celebration", written by Ronald Bell, Claydes Charles Smith, George Brown, James Taylor, Robert Mickens, Earl Toon, Jr., Dennis Thomas, Robert "Kool" Bell and Eumir Deodato, performed by Kool & the Gang.
• "Big Willie Style" contains a sample of "Something Special", written by Maurice White, Wayne Vaughn and Wanda Vaughn, performed by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• "Men in Black" contains a sample of "Forget Me Nots", written by Patrice Rushen, Terry McFadden and Fred Washington, performed by Patrice Rushen.
• "Just Cruisin' (Remix)" contains a sample of "Don't Take It Personal", written by David Townsend, Derrick Culler and David Conley, performed by Jermaine Jackson.

Personnel

Personnel credits adapted from liner notes.^[1]

Chart positions

Certifications

References

External links

• Big Willie Style at Discogs (list of releases)