 Will Smith I had to find out for myself whether this CD was merely a filler-padded single for his two easy-access pop gimmes "Men In Black" and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It." I think there's a little more going on here, but you have to weed out these non-humorous cliché ego-serving interview segments that run between some of the songs. It's a good time to utilize the "Program" button. Big Willie Style kicks off with "Intro" (boring self-righteous chatter) … into a flat not-so-catchy ditty called "Y'All Know." Suddenly, it's that peppy little riff that 70s kids knew as Sister Sledge's "He's The Greatest Dancer," niftily repackaged as "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It." And as such, the song will be popping eternally on hit radio stations and at weddings for years to come. I attribute the song's success to being the first pop single to drop the names "George and Weezie" since "The Jeffersons" went off the air. I imagine Sherman Hemsley's probably looking for a cut, especially since "Amen" is not likely to see DVD release any time soon. What the hell, I love it. Anyway, it's more namedropping time for our erstwhile Independence Day star, as he does a little duet with Larry Blackmon and Cameo called "Candy." The song probably would have been better without Smith, but I suppose the kids love those funny things he says. That said, the world eagerly awaits Larry Blackmon's triumphant return. I'd vote him in for President. Word Up! Uh-oh … a rap ballad. Please Will, don't sing. "Chasing Forever" is lame, but I'm sure the hip-hop programmers are trying to find a way to squeeze it on the playlist. "Don't Say Nothin'" is nothin', "Miami" is fair … has a nice, familiar groove, but it's still merely marginal. "Yes Yes Y'All" featuring Camp Lo, who I guess I should be more aware of, is not bad … but not fantastic either. "I Loved You" catches Will harkening back to those thrilling days of Freaknic, and not really hitting the mark, but again … at least he's not singing. "It's All Good", the 7456th song to use the legendary Chic "Good Times" groove, has me rapping along, but to the 7455 other songs. "Just the Two of Us" pulls the Puff Daddy-esque variation on the Grover Washington/Bill Withers classic. But I'm not going to slam a rapper who writes a song about loving his family. It's like the Children's Television Workshop version Common. "Left Eye" Lopes lends some TLC to "Big Willie Style," which is not so bad. "B.W.S." closes with a wallop as Patrice Rushen loans "Forget Me Nots" to the former Fresh Prince, neatly mutated to the theme of Will's smash from last summer, "Men In Black." A nice closer. Uneven as most other rap albums … a few more highs than lows. Very rap-novice-friendly, but the more jaden among us will need to skip around. I suppose I'd be intrigued by a Will Smith Greatest Hits, but then again … not that much.
Review by PAL |