It’s All Good. Big Willies (and indirectly, Tatyana Ali)

When Chris asked me to write an album review for his blog, I initially thought I’d write about Bayohnse’s new album. Instead, I found myself looking back at my roots. Hence, this post.

In “Big Willie Style,” Will makes sure to get down to the somewhat played-out issues that often matter most: 1. He’s famous. 2. What he does IS rap. 3. His penis is large (and effective).

Listening to the album again, however, I realize this was a groundbreaking album. Now, I have no idea if this was actually innovative at the time (fuck no, I’m not researching for this shit), but his style is mimicked over and over again: steal a funky old beat and rap something kind of corny over it.

AND… without “Big Willie Style” we’d never have uttered the phrase “gettin’ jiggy.” Don’t forget I’d never’ve shouted “bienvenido a Miami” every time I (admittedly rarely) heard the mention of South Beach. Also. Remember that dance the alien does at the end of “Men In Black”? Or how you howled with laughter because you were probably too young and too inexperienced with CGI to think it was ridiculous? Yeah, that track’s from this album. Also, Will’s soft side shows through in songs like “Just the Two of Us” (aww, he’s rapping about his son).

I’m not gonna get into the rest of the tracks or those weird, egocentric interludes because I’m sure you’re tired of reading this already, but I’ll leave you with a taste of Will’s romantic lyrical genius from my personal favorite B-side track, “Candy”:

Be my Peppermint Paddy with a hundred wishes
An I'll be your Hershey daddy with a hundred kisses
Get the twins M&M to book us out a flight today
Me an’ you can Starburst to the Milky Way

I hope Will Smith actually has a candy fetish.