Big Willie Style
Encyclopedia
Big Willie Style is the first solo studio album recorded by Will Smith
, after spending most of his career as the latter half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
. The album was released on Columbia Records
in the United States
on November 25, 1997 and featured a total of four hit singles – "Men in Black
" (released earlier in the year on the soundtrack for the movie of the same name
), "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
" (which redefined popular use of the word jiggy), the retro-styled jam "Miami
" and the meaningful message to fathers and sons (starring, and about his real life father and son relationship with, his first son) "Just the Two of Us
", a cover
of the Grover Washington, Jr.
and Bill Withers
song of the same name.
" was a big hit, spending 2 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
from March 14, 1998 to March 28, 1998, Smith's first No. 1 hit in his homeland. The track became a Top 5 elsewhere. As a fourth single, "Just the Two of Us" was released in August 1998, and was another big hit, reaching No. 2 in the UK and making the U.S. Top 20. The final single was "Miami" was accompanied with an expensive, ambitious music video, and released in November 1998. The track also made an impressive performance in the charts, reaching No. 3 in the UK and No. 17 in the U.S. In the U.S., the album debuted at No. 31 and then began to lose position until "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" was released, rising to No. 10. Then the album began to fall again, but, in the wake of the release of the very well-received "Just the Two of Us", the album reached a new peak position of No. 8, where it spent 3 weeks. In the U.S., spent a total of 7 weeks on the Top 10, 69 weeks on the Top 40 and 99 weeks on the whole Billboard 200
. The album was eventually certified 9x platinum by RIAA on July 20, 2000, denoting 9 million shipments in the U.S alone. Meanwhile, the album debuted in the UK charts at No. 63 and then fell positions very quickly, but it gained new chart power with the release of "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It", reaching No. 11 in March 1998. Then the album began to fall again on the list, but was revitalised several times in 1998 following the subsequent single releases. Then, on late January 1999, in the wake of the release of the final single "Miami", the album finally reached its peak position of No. 9, and then began its final fall on the charts. This unusual chart run from the album materialized on just one week on the Top 10, 38 weeks on the Top 40 but a total of an impressive 108 weeks on the UK albums charts, making 3 re-entries on it. Worldwide sales are over 14 million, making it one of the best-selling rap albums of all time. Smith won 2 Grammy Award
s in the Best Rap Solo Performance category for the songs "Men in Black
", in 1997, and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
", in 1998, making him the only artist in history to receive two Grammys from this category for two songs from the same album. Nas
was also a co-writer on this album with Will Smith. He is credited under his real name, Nasir Jones and worked on 4 songs on the album including the No. 1 hit "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It".
Singles
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, after spending most of his career as the latter half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince is a hip hop duo from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vocalist Will Smith met Jeff Townes while trying to make a name for himself in West Philadelphia's local hip hop scene. After joining forces with Clarence Holmes the team members became local celebrities...
. The album was released on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 25, 1997 and featured a total of four hit singles – "Men in Black
Men in Black (song)
"Men in Black" is a song by Will Smith from the movie Men in Black, in which he also starred. The song plays during the movie's closing credits...
" (released earlier in the year on the soundtrack for the movie of the same name
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
), "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It" is a single by Will Smith from his album Big Willie Style. Released in early 1998 and co-written by Nas, it was Smith's first hit produced by Poke & Tone, who replaced his long-time partner Jazzy Jeff, though the record-scratching techniques of Jazzy Jeff can be heard in the...
" (which redefined popular use of the word jiggy), the retro-styled jam "Miami
Miami (Will Smith song)
"Miami" is a 1998 single from Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style. It samples The Whispers' 1980 hit "And the Beat Goes On". The song charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK charts. It won an MTV VMA Best Male Video award. The video features an early...
" and the meaningful message to fathers and sons (starring, and about his real life father and son relationship with, his first son) "Just the Two of Us
Just the Two of Us (Will Smith song)
"Just the Two of Us" is the fourth single from Will Smith's first solo album, Big Willie Style. The rap song was inspired by Bill Withers' and Grover Washington, Jr.'s love song of the same title; Smith's version samples and incorporates lyrics from the original. Instead of love between a couple,...
", a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
and Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
song of the same name.
Background
The first single from the album "Men in Black", was not released in the U.S. as a physical single, and was therefore unable to chart in Billboard. "Men in Black" enjoyed a worldwide release, and reached No. 1 in many countries. The song spent an entire month at the top of the UK singles charts, becoming the 6th biggest hit single there in 1997. The follow-up, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit ItGettin' Jiggy Wit It
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It" is a single by Will Smith from his album Big Willie Style. Released in early 1998 and co-written by Nas, it was Smith's first hit produced by Poke & Tone, who replaced his long-time partner Jazzy Jeff, though the record-scratching techniques of Jazzy Jeff can be heard in the...
" was a big hit, spending 2 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
from March 14, 1998 to March 28, 1998, Smith's first No. 1 hit in his homeland. The track became a Top 5 elsewhere. As a fourth single, "Just the Two of Us" was released in August 1998, and was another big hit, reaching No. 2 in the UK and making the U.S. Top 20. The final single was "Miami" was accompanied with an expensive, ambitious music video, and released in November 1998. The track also made an impressive performance in the charts, reaching No. 3 in the UK and No. 17 in the U.S. In the U.S., the album debuted at No. 31 and then began to lose position until "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" was released, rising to No. 10. Then the album began to fall again, but, in the wake of the release of the very well-received "Just the Two of Us", the album reached a new peak position of No. 8, where it spent 3 weeks. In the U.S., spent a total of 7 weeks on the Top 10, 69 weeks on the Top 40 and 99 weeks on the whole Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album was eventually certified 9x platinum by RIAA on July 20, 2000, denoting 9 million shipments in the U.S alone. Meanwhile, the album debuted in the UK charts at No. 63 and then fell positions very quickly, but it gained new chart power with the release of "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It", reaching No. 11 in March 1998. Then the album began to fall again on the list, but was revitalised several times in 1998 following the subsequent single releases. Then, on late January 1999, in the wake of the release of the final single "Miami", the album finally reached its peak position of No. 9, and then began its final fall on the charts. This unusual chart run from the album materialized on just one week on the Top 10, 38 weeks on the Top 40 but a total of an impressive 108 weeks on the UK albums charts, making 3 re-entries on it. Worldwide sales are over 14 million, making it one of the best-selling rap albums of all time. Smith won 2 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s in the Best Rap Solo Performance category for the songs "Men in Black
Men in Black (song)
"Men in Black" is a song by Will Smith from the movie Men in Black, in which he also starred. The song plays during the movie's closing credits...
", in 1997, and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It" is a single by Will Smith from his album Big Willie Style. Released in early 1998 and co-written by Nas, it was Smith's first hit produced by Poke & Tone, who replaced his long-time partner Jazzy Jeff, though the record-scratching techniques of Jazzy Jeff can be heard in the...
", in 1998, making him the only artist in history to receive two Grammys from this category for two songs from the same album. Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
was also a co-writer on this album with Will Smith. He is credited under his real name, Nasir Jones and worked on 4 songs on the album including the No. 1 hit "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It".
Track listing
- "Intro" – 1:51
- "Y'All Know" (Andreao "Fanatic" Heard"Andreao HeardAndreao Heard is Grammy award-winning record producer from Greensboro, North Carolina, USA who is known by his nickname "Fanatic" and who has worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Notorious B.I.G., Will Smith and Lil Kim. Heard was a member of P Diddy's Hitmen production team...
, Will Smith) – 3:57 - "Gettin' Jiggy Wit ItGettin' Jiggy Wit It"Gettin' Jiggy wit It" is a single by Will Smith from his album Big Willie Style. Released in early 1998 and co-written by Nas, it was Smith's first hit produced by Poke & Tone, who replaced his long-time partner Jazzy Jeff, though the record-scratching techniques of Jazzy Jeff can be heard in the...
" (Will Smith, Samuel J. Barnes, Bernard EdwardsBernard EdwardsBernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
, Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
, J. Robinson, Nasir JonesNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
) – 3:47 - "Candy" (featuring Larry BlackmonLarry BlackmonLarry Ernest Blackmon is the lead singer and frontman for the funk and R&B band, Cameo. He came to Cameo from the band, Black Ivory....
and CameoCameo (band)Cameo is an American soul-influenced funk group that formed in the early 1970s. Cameo was initially a 13-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo to avoid a lawsuit from Ohio Players, another group from that era. Since then, Cameo has recorded several...
) (Will Smith, Ryan Toby, L. Blackmon, T. Jenkins) – 3:56 - "Chasing Forever" (Will Smith, Nasir JonesNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, Kenny Greene, Stevie Wonder) – 4:15 - "Keith B-Real I (Interlude)" – 1:07
- "Don't Say Nothin'" (Will Smith, Ryan Toby, Keith Pelzer) – 4:22
- "MiamiMiami (Will Smith song)"Miami" is a 1998 single from Will Smith's debut solo album Big Willie Style. It samples The Whispers' 1980 hit "And the Beat Goes On". The song charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK charts. It won an MTV VMA Best Male Video award. The video features an early...
" (Will Smith, Ryan Toby, Samuel J. Barnes, W. Shelby, S. Shockley, L. Sylvers III) – 3:17 - "Yes Yes Y'All" (featuring Camp LoCamp LoCamp Lo is an American hip hop duo, formed in 1995, which hails from The Bronx, New York. The duo consists of rappers Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede , both of Muslim upbringing.-Career:...
) (Will Smith, Nasir Jones, The Isley Brothers, C. Jasper, O. Scott, R. Wilson, J. Robinson) – 4:23 - "I Loved You" (Will Smith, Ryan Toby, Valvin Roane, Keith Pelzer, Joe Farrell) – 4:12
- "Keith B-Real II (Interlude)" – 0:30
- "It's All Good" (Will Smith, Jeff Townes, Carvin Haggins, B. Edwards, N. Rodgers) – 4:04
- "Just the Two of UsJust the Two of Us (Will Smith song)"Just the Two of Us" is the fourth single from Will Smith's first solo album, Big Willie Style. The rap song was inspired by Bill Withers' and Grover Washington, Jr.'s love song of the same title; Smith's version samples and incorporates lyrics from the original. Instead of love between a couple,...
" (Will Smith, Bill Withers, W. Salter, R. MacDonald) – 5:15 - "Keith B-Real III (Interlude)" – 1:54
- "Big Willie Style" (featuring Lisa LopesLisa LopesLisa Nicole Lopes better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, dancer, actress, television host, and songwriter...
) (Will Smith, Timothy Riley, M. White, W. L. Vaughn, W. Vaughn) – 3:35 - "Men In BlackMen in Black (song)"Men in Black" is a song by Will Smith from the movie Men in Black, in which he also starred. The song plays during the movie's closing credits...
(featuring CokoCokoCheryl Elizabeth "Coko" Clemons is an American gospel and R&B singer, and lead singer of R&B group Sisters With Voices .-Musical career:...
)" (Will Smith, Patrice Rushen, Terry McFadden, Fred Washington) – 3:45 - "Just Cruisin'Just Cruisin'"Just Cruisin" is a single by Will Smith that appeared on Men in Black: The Album and the UK release of his debut album, Big Willie Style.-History:...
" (bonus track on some editions) (Will Smith) 3:59
Liner notes
The following are the lines written by Smith available on the booklet from the album.Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Billboard 200 | 8 |
| 1997 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 9 |
| 1997 | Top Canadian Albums | 14 |
| 1998 | UK Albums Chart | 9 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Rhythmic Top 40 | 5 |
| 1997 | "Men in Black" | Hot Latin Tracks | 39 |
| 1997 | "Men in Black" | Latin Pop Airplay | 7 |
| 1997 | "Men in Black" | Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay | 13 |
| 1997 | "Men in Black" | Rhythmic Top 40 | 1 |
| 1997 | "Men in Black" | Top 40 Mainstream | 2 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Hot Latin Tracks | 37 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 6 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Hot Rap Singles | 1 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Latin Pop Airplay | 17 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay | 16 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1998 | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Top 40 Mainstream | 5 |
| 1998 | "Just the Two of Us" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 17 |
| 1998 | "Just the Two of Us" | Hot Rap Singles | 1 |
| 1998 | "Just the Two of Us" | Rhythmic Top 40 | 2 |
| 1998 | "Just the Two of Us" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| 1998 | "Just the Two of Us" | Top 40 Mainstream | 6 |
| 1998 | "Miami" | Rhythmic Top 40 | 4 |
| 1998 | "Miami" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 17 |
| 1998 | "Miami" | Top 40 Mainstream | 7 |
| 1998 | "Miami" | Top 40 Tracks | 6 |
| 1998 | "Miami" | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 73 |
End of decade charts
| Chart (1990–1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 39 |