Big Willie Style Music Cd

Will Smith - Big Willie Style

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Big Willie Style      Artist : Will Smith      List Price : $11.98 USD        Your Price : $11.98 USD      ProductGroup: Music      Release Date : 1997-11-25      Studio : Sony      Label : Sony      Avg. Customer Rating : (317 reviews)

Reviews Customer Reviews for Big Willie Style      A REPOSITORY OF FUNK SAMPLES      Rating:      I am a simultaneous listener of hip hop and funk. Simply because funk is a subset of the dance music market; and because hip hop used to extensively sample it. When I started to hear older funk songs that sounded similar; this is how I realized that hip hop gave me a "window" to the sound of funk which I really dig. This album was made before 21st century hip hop musicians such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Kayne West and others started to ignore those funk sounds. I mean, hip hop was an extension to funk in the first place!     Customer Reviews for Big Willie Style Cd      Fun & Friendly Rap (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4.0 stars)      Rating:      I remember back in 1998, I was extremely pissed at my mom because she wouldn't stop at the store so I can buy this album. Back in 1997 Will Smith aka The Fresh Prince dropped his first LP with out his right hand man DJ Jazzy Jeff, his first time on the mic in almost four years. Since the 1993 album Code Red, Will has been on television and on the silver screen, mainly with his two big blockbuster hits Men in Black (Deluxe Edition) & Independence Day (Single Disc Widescreen Edition) with detoured him from his rap career. When Will returned to the mic, he was ready and willing to make a hit album. He dropped "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" as the first single, which really didn't get my attention. What really wanted me to get this album was the second single "Just The Two Of Us". The song had elements of the origonal song done by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr. which was played all the time where I resided, so hearing the version on this CD was the coolest thing ever (seriously). Speaking of elements and samples, this album is has a lot of them that are easily recognizable. "Candy" ironically features Cameo and Larry Blackmon which uses the origonal old school beat, although the third verse of that song might leave you scratching your head a bit. The popular single "Miami" produced by L.E.S. samples "The Beat Goes On" by The Whispers, which makes it tight to listen to. Another stand out to me would be "Don't Say Nothin'" where Will gets some heat off his back, and produced by his former partner DJ Jazzy Jeff. Another notable would be "Yes Yes Y'all" which features Sonny Cheeba from Camp Lo. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez (R.I.P.) assists Will on the title track "Big Willie Style". And then the album closes off with the "Men In Black" theme song which is a bonus. Some songs I never liked were the slow song "Chasing Forever". That song just didn't appeal to me. Also "I Loved You" and "It's All Good" I wasn't feeling although Jazzy Jeff doesn't do a bad job with the production. Big Willie Style is great. It's fun for all ears, as there is no profanity (I think he says the S word on "Don't Say Nothin'" that's edited). Most of these songs are sort of pop friendly and would appeal to people who listen to the radio a lot (I was 12 when this album dropped). Fans of his earlier work from the late 80's and early 90's might like this. Hardcore hip hop fans might want to stay away from this. But at the end of the day, Will still entertains. Whether if it is behind the mic, or on the movie screen, he gets the job done. Peace!! Lyrics: B Production: B+ Guest Appearances: B Musical Vibes: B+ Top 5 Favorite Tracks: 1. Miami 2. Just The Two Of Us 3. Don't Say Nothin' 4. Yes Yes Yall (featuring Sonny Cheeba of Camp Lo) 5. Y'all Know Honorable Mention: 1. Candy (featuring Larry Blackmon and Cameo) Editorial Reviews for Big Willie Style Audio Cd      Amazon.com      Is Will Smith an important rapper? The kind that deserves the awards, the honors, the accolades that the music industry foists upon him? Well, no. The words corny and safe might be applicable when describing the artist formerly known as the Fresh Prince. But dig this: corny and safe as he may be, why can't you stop singing "Getting Jiggy wit It" or why does your child love "Just the Two of Us," Smith's shameless ode to dads and their kids? Probably because Smith is nothing if not sincere. Yes, the tracks are obvious and leaden, and, no, Method Man won't have any sleepless nights when Smith lets loose with a rhyme. But give him this: Smith comes from the culture, even if he long ago left the streets. --Amy Linden