Will Smith - Willennium

Will Smith is the future of hip-hop--in the sense that Willennium, his follow-up to 1997's multiplatinum Big Willie Style, is sure to dominate pop-rap airwaves and sales in the months after its release. Proud of his kid appeal but also self-mocking (he carries the title concept further with the single "Will2K," a party jam built on a sample of the Clash's "Rock the Casbah"), Smith celebrates the early-rap values of good-natured boasting and fun-fun-fun. This megastar's desire to remain part of the community is reflected in his savvy choice of guests, who number everyone from K-Ci to rappers new school (Lil' Kim, Eve) and old (Slick Rick, Biz Markie); once and future partner DJ Jazzy Jeff even gets his own four minutes of funk on the scratch-happy "Pump Me Up." Smith also attempts cinematic--natch--storytelling on "Afro Angel" and "The Rain," which are admirably solemn if far from the best things here. Smith may not be the hippest hip-hopper around, but as Chuck D once said of another, very different figure, "Don't tell me that you understand until you hear the man." --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

Good listen

Willenium was the follow-up album to the mega hit Big Willie Style. Willenium is a very good album and you should listen to each track at least once. Here is a list of the tracks and my opinions of them (based out of 5 stars):

1) I'm Comin' - (***) This track is worth a listen every now and then, the beat is cool and the rhymes are nice, but it is very repetitive. It is worth a listen due to some creative rhymes.

2) Will2k - (****) Will2k sounds good at first but does get old after a while but it is good to play at a new years party (despite Will saying that it will be 2000 and not, say, 2006) It is good for parties and can be very fun to dance to.

3) Freakin it - (***) Freakin it is basically Will's lashing out at the rap world. It does address some issues that need to be discussed, but Will does talk about himself too much in this one.

4) Da Butta - (**) Da Butta does have some good lyrics by Will as well as Lil' Kim who is featured in this rap, but the beat is too repetitive for me.

5) La Fiesta - (****) La Fiesta does have a very catchy feel to it and has a good dance instrumental. I like the semi-fast rapping of Will on this track.

6) Who Am I - (****) For some reason Amazon forgets this track on their track listing, but it is on the album (at least the North American version) Anyway, This track has great lyrics in it and you should just listen to it.

7) Afro Angel - (*****) Great track! It is Will's slow song, but is very powerful and good!

8) So Fresh - (*****) Personally I think this is by far the best track on the album. It is classic DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince at its finest.

9) Pump Me Up - (*****) The continuation of So Fresh with superb scratching by Jeff.

10) Can You Feel Me - (****) Cool sampling of Michael Jackson's Working Day and Night! Very catchy

11) Potnas/Interlude - (****) Potnas is a good look at friends in general and the interlude contains an extra song and Will talking with his father about friends.

12) No More - (****) I really like this song; it is another good slow song by Will about trying to get your girl back.

13) Uuhhh - (****) Great track featuring independent artist Kel Spencer. Addicting instrumental.

14) Wild Wild West - (****) You know this song.

15) The Rain - (****) Final track, it is a slow song. It is full of symbols and is very multi-layered. A good song!
February 25, 2006

Hip-Hop Classic!

How could anyone diss this album? You must have your ears clogged if you think Will's not rapping about anything, you're right he's not rapping about drugs, gangbanging, or hardcore sex, he's rapping about more important things in life like being a positive influence on songs like "Who I Am?", "Afro Angel", and "The Rain", like he said, "I put the gold and ice away/Nicer day/live foul homie it's a price to pay", sure Will's dissin' gangsta rap in some of his songs, but it's ok for gangsta rappers to diss him first? Shouldn't you defend yourself if you're being dissed? Hip-hop is many things not just gangstaisms,there's Slick Rick, Will Smith, and KRS-ONE who rap about more important things in life, Will's in that class, he could easily outspit these Jiggas and 50 Cents today, I also recommend that you pick up his new album "Lost and Found" and the "Code Red" album with Jazzy Jeff and you'll realise that Will's one of the greatest lyricists to ever touch the mic, god bless you Big Willie for being a bigger man than these fake thug rappers out now! July 24, 2005

Willennium

I remember this album when I was in the 7th grade. I love this album. It is a positive rap album. This album is the followup to its predecessor. Will has collaborated with some other producers(in 1999). Several titles of "Willennium" make place wit the production,the vocal contributions and/or scratches of Jeff Townes while other prices the prowessees of work in studio of Trackmasters(Blaque)emphasize. He approaches to the 21st century with this album. This album has been certified 2x Platinum. Remember,this was 1999-2000. May 21, 2005

Great Follow Up To Big Willie Style.....Over 2 million sold!

The album is tight with catchy beats and hooks, Will has further solidified himself as an MC without being raw and vulgar. The best lyrics on this album are on the song "uuuhh". The worst song on this CD is Afro Angel. February 16, 2005

Will is da new MILLENNIUM

This CD is da best I ever heard. Will Smith with DJ Jazzy Jeff once again in Pump It Up is great combo. So Fresh is da best song on da album. Wild Wild West great hook and great rhymin'. Remember he's comin'. December 21, 2004

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