Monday, April 10, 2006

I Declare This, Will Smith Appreciation Day!!!

Sometimes, like the alcoholic who has been intoxicated for a decade straight that suddenly decides to sober up when he finds himself laying beside a woman who looks like Biz Markie, my IPOD has brought a sort of "moment of clarity" concerning some musical artists as of late. Like Saigon, who I feel is dope lyrically, but I just fucking hope that he doesn't follow the same career path of another artist who had a great deal of hype around them as well, one who always has his shirt off and made a vomit inducing song called "Candy Shop". Or Jay-Z, who's commercial songs will still never be in my IPOD, but listening to many of his songs I realized that I was overly critical of an obviously sound lyricist.

But something miraculous happened when a friend gave me a shitload of Will Smith CD'S, leaving it on my doorway like an abandoned baby with a cryptic "Yoda"-like note saying, "When this Will Smith material you listen, legendary you will find him!" Besides me having geeky friends who's main preoccupation is possibly masturbating to "The Empire Strikes Back", I took the CD's inside and it sat there for about 3 weeks. I mean, I've never been a Will Smith hater so I didn't see his need to "convert" me, so instead of simply listening to what he had given me I felt that my time could be used more economically, downloading triple penetration porn and drunk calling married ex-girlfriends.

I must say though, as I stumbled out of bed one Sunday morning dealing with a massive hangover, going through my pockets wondering why is it that when I black out I always find phone numbers without Gender specific names(Terry, Shannon, Jamie. Fuck, Ray better be short for Raylene), I decided to pop in a few of those Will Smith CD's in my disk-changer. Even though my head was banging like gang members in Little Rock, or the posterior area of Buffie the Body, I found myself nodding my head to stuff I overlooked because of me preferring Big Daddy Kane at the time. I found myself reciting the words to songs I ignored when they were released, me thinking that Will Smith was soft and being a NWA fan at the time. Based on the sheer dopeness of "Brand New Funk" and a few other factors that I will go into momentarily, I realized something that will rock the proverbial worlds of Crunk enthusiasts and backpackers alike. OK, here goes, Will Smith is Real Hip Hop.

I also realized that I owe Will Smith an apology, not because I have been overly critical, but I have unfairly ignored him on some "Jan Brady, middle child" shit. It seems that while embracing the accomplishments of the older sibling(Old School Hip Hop) and spending a great deal of time trying to discipline the unruly younger child(Current radio Hip Hop), it seems that I showed my piss poor parenting skills by overlooking the middle child and their accomplishments.(Will Smith, and artists of his ilk)

Just think about it, when artists like Young Jeezy and 50 Cent try to con the masses that their criminal rap sheet equals lyrical credibility, that mere notion makes Will Smith begins to look like Africa Bambaataa and shit. For those who applauded the shit-stain in history that is the Three-Six mafia and their winning of the Oscar award(An award that they use to get into clubs by the way), and the way Jon Stewart(a guy that I like) laugh AT them setting my people back 150 years, I affectionately think back on how DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith boycotted the Grammy awards because they refused to televise the Hip Hop portion. For all those who see an artist like Ice Cube's transformation from one of Hip Hop's elite with biting social commentary to a guy with with sub-par lyrics and a flick entitled "Are we there yet?" as "maturing", Will Smith has stayed consistent over the body of his career.

Listen, even though I think that him passing up the lead role in "The Matrix" over being in "The Wild Wiled West" is a mortal fucking sin, and I'm not the biggest fan of his most recent musical stylings, at the end of the day he is a guy who loves real Hip Hop and has stayed true to himself.(That's a lot more than I can say for your garden variety dickhead now playing on a local radio station near you)

12 comments:

Cari said...

Fresh Prince of Bel Air!!!

Parent's just don't understand...

Dwayne said...

I feel you bruh. He is definitely under rated as an MC. He's not the greatest of all time. But definitely a legend. That's why he made my top 10.

chele said...

I also agree with your assessment. And even though Wild, Wild West was ridiculous ... I still have the Burger King action figure of Will Smith sitting on my desk. I don't know when I'll see another Black cowboy immortalized like that.

The Brown Blogger said...

Very well put.

I agree.

Anonymous said...

I've always liked him! I'll have to go listen to more of his musica.

MZPEACH said...

I like Fresh Prince. I always have. I don't like it when people disrespect him. How can you knock a man that can make an entire rap cd without cursing or disrespecting women? I was going to write a post about him...let me take that back, I considered writing a post about him once before. You did it better ofcourse.
You just might be a cool dude HC, cause I could have sworn that you only liked a particular kind of rap.
But I must say that some of his music is a little too poppy for me. I can't really get into poppy rap. Just like I can't get into poppy r&b, or poppy reggae.

BLESSD1 said...

Hey...it's really cool for folx to give the man some props. Though I haven't always felt what he rhymes about, there have been a couple of joints that he did that I STILL LOVE (Nightmare on MY street, I think I can beat Mike Tyson, Just the Two of Us). I hate that so many folx hate on a dude that made a decision long ago to be responsible when he writes a song, and despite pressures from everybody, stuck to his guns about it. Yes...Wild, Wild West was wackaroni...but the same could be said about MUCH of the garbage that floods the airwaves today that people bump in their cars. Thanx for showing Will Smith some love, HC. Excelsior

Amadeo said...

I dug Will back in the day...you won't see me copping none of his stuff now...but I remind the young folks that not only could he rhyme, was he good, but he had one of the best D.J.'s ever.

Anonymous said...

Hey I know this has nothing to with Will Smith's music. I was just trying to talk about his acting career. Great talent and great wisdom are not the same thang---and I'm stopping here before my tone gets too irresistibly seductive for our secure and confident youth...

Anonymous said...

I love it when I read an "on-time" blog. I happened to listen to Will's last CD recently and just discussed how awesome it was with a friend. HE IS THE BOMB. Unfortunately, all his props only seem to come from underground means like blogging and record sales...no award shows. He even mentioned this in one of his songs. I wish we could get these comments to him somehow. Anyway, I hope he keeps up the good work and doesn't let the absence of media attention stop of from being a damn good rapper as well as actor! Great blog, thanx

James Manning said...

I was down with him the the TV show came and he lost me on the rapping tip. But I am a fan of some of his movies. They guy has talent.

B. Holcomb said...

well said my friend...keep it movin!