Will Smith

Will Smith is an A-list Hollywood actor with a long and successful music career behind him. He first emerged as The Fresh Prince - rapping alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff - before launching a solo career in his real name that yielded several international smash-hit singles.

Between 1987 and 1993, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince released six albums including He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper (1988) and Homebase (1991). Both were commercially successful, getting to No. 4 and No.11 in the US album charts respectively, with Homebase reaching double platinum certification. Reviews were positive about both albums too, particularly He's The DJ..., which is considered one of the most likeable hip-hop records of the 80s. Homebase featured the Grammy Award-winning single "Summertime", which heavily sampled Kool & the Gang's jazzy "Summer Madness". In 1993 they had a worldwide hit with "Boom! Shake The Room", which sampled the Ohio Players' "Funky Worm".

Smith released his debut solo album in 1997. Big Willie Style went nine-times platinum in the States, boosted by the huge success of singles "Men in Black", "Getting' Jiggy Wit It", "Miami", and a cover of Bill Withers' "Just the Two of Us". Willennium (1999) wasn't quite so successful, but it still sold two million and included the No.1 hit "Wild Wild West". Smith's two solo albums since have disappointed, with poor reviews and only gold sales - relatively low for such a high profile star.