Big Willie lost the plot? (1 Viewer)

[Martin]

Will Smith - Lost & found

So the new album was released March 29 and I hadn't heard a peep about it, which indicates lousy publicity. That's a bit unusual but it's the tip of the iceberg. The album sucks. Really sucks. I can't believe this is Will, I can't believe he would release something this bad. After listening through it, there were only two tracks I ever wanted to hear again, the rest were trash. Vaguely interesting are "Lost & found" and "Tell me why", although in the latter he gets a little too excited.

But wait, there's more. There hasn't been an album yet where Willie talks about himself and his greatness in every feckin song. Now I realize that rap isn't a genre of humility, a rap song without trash talk and self adoration just wouldn't cut it (unless it's about something else entirely). Rap is about struggle and adversity but enough is enough. When there's nothing else on the entire album than manifestation of the artist's greatness, something has gone terribly wrong somewhere. What's more, the music is terrible, so there's absolutely nothing to rescue it. When I heard the song "Switch" (presumably something to do with the movie "Hitch", although the song wasn't in it), I thought it was crap. Yet on the album you get it in three different versions!?

I sincerely hope the album sells exceptionally badly so Big Willie gets a wake up call and starts putting out quality music again. Jeez, he even did one song with that clown Snoop Dogg, big surprise it really sucks.

2/10

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Emma]

Oh good the trauma....

I had to listen to a few songs in someones car.

BAD!

 

[adams]

Will performed at the NBA finals. Lukewarm reception. I believe it has mostly to do with his image. He is seen as a movie star, is married and has kids- hardly the kind of character that suits the stereotype.

He seems to lack (or lost, if he ever had any) street cred, which is so vital in the mainstream hip-hop industry.

Recent developments in the Hip-Hop scene (at least locally in the us) have seen street cred take a big place in the ever-superficial industry. 8 Mile, which focuses on Eminem's "street" upbringing, 50-cent's notorious reputation as a former drug dealer and having been shot six or so times, Lil Jon and the deep south reacting against the polished sheen of neatly produced tracks all point in one direction- "Keepin it real". Will Smith severely lacks this and this is what I see as the ultimate downfall of his album, even more so than his "flow".

 

[nedved34]

Man you really have a bad taste,will smith? :wth:



BTW,who did you call Clown?


I know he is

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by adams ] ++
Recent developments in the Hip-Hop scene (at least locally in the us) have seen street cred take a big place in the ever-superficial industry. 8 Mile, which focuses on Eminem's "street" upbringing, 50-cent's notorious reputation as a former drug dealer and having been shot six or so times, Lil Jon and the deep south reacting against the polished sheen of neatly produced tracks all point in one direction- "Keepin it real". Will Smith severely lacks this and this is what I see as the ultimate downfall of his album, even more so than his "flow".

Will does have some leverage on that point but he doesn't try to sell it. Or at least not anymore. He's the party rapper, not exactly a hip-hop'er. I remember some old interviews where he said he had seen it all, drugs, violence etc. As a kid he was always in the wrong place, but as a bystander, not a participant. But he didn't want to talk about it, he wanted to be positive. And so he was, in the 90s he became very popular as the clean-hiphop figure. That was in his youth but from that point on, it became all about the party thing and he's never really looked back from that.

But yeah the industry is pretty ridiculous to begin with, with the street cred criterion and everyone trying to live up to that.

As an artist he has made some songs that I really liked over the years but this latest album is nothing like those.

 

[swag]

Ahhh. Slick Willie. He's got a lot more of a Hollywood asset to protect now that he's two MiB movies past his Fresh Prince days. Of course, all people grow up. But he has one image that needs to be carefully groomed now.

But does that mean "street cred" and keeping it real et al mean crap these days in hip-hop? If anything, I find it all tiresome, repetitive, and boring. Blah blah blah ... another hip-hopper going on about how tough life is out on the streets, how he's the baddest thing since Charles Manson, how he can rap lyrics in circles around you and leave you crying on the way home to mommie.

Talk about tired crap. Although I've had enough of the self-abusive, whiney college rock thing myself, I half wonder if the whole industry doesn't need some self-deprecating hip-hopper to turn the entire bloated industry on its head and give it some creative life again. Much in the way that De La Soul did years ago in showing you can have great beats and lyrics and still have half a brain ... and not take yourself too seriously in the process.

 

[Zlatan]

++ [ originally posted by adams ] ++
Will performed at the NBA finals. Lukewarm reception. I believe it has mostly to do with his image. He is seen as a movie star, is married and has kids- hardly the kind of character that suits the stereotype.

He seems to lack (or lost, if he ever had any) street cred, which is so vital in the mainstream hip-hop industry.

True, but then again, he never tried to be that kind of rapper, he never did gangsta rap, his lyrics are clean.

++ [ originally posted by Martin ] ++


As an artist he has made some songs that I really liked over the years but this latest album is nothing like those.

He really made some great studd. I personally like Just the 2 of us, Summertime, Just Cruisin', and especially No More, probably one of my favourite songs of his. Momma knows and the Rain aint bad either IMO, nor is getting jiggy with it.

I heard the new album, and cant really say I liked it.

 

[Zlatan]

BTW Martin, if you think that's bad, you should hear R. Kelly's 5 part "Trapped in the closet" song. Hilarious

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++
He really made some great studd. I personally like Just the 2 of us, Summertime, Just Cruisin', and especially No More, probably one of my favourite songs of his. Momma knows and the Rain aint bad either IMO, nor is getting jiggy with it.

I heard the new album, and cant really say I liked it.

I always liked Afro Angel and Potnas, otherwise you covered it.

++ [ originally posted by swag ] ++
Ahhh. Slick Willie. He's got a lot more of a Hollywood asset to protect now that he's two MiB movies past his Fresh Prince days. Of course, all people grow up. But he has one image that needs to be carefully groomed now.

The funny thing is that he started out as a musician but ended up not being recognize neither in music nor in acting very much. He's had what 2 serious roles in all of his career (apart from the very early stuff) and with every movie you know what you're gonna get, charming, funny Willie, the same one everytime. But with $28m from iRobot, maybe I wouldn't be so anxious to prove myself either..

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Zlatan ] ++
BTW Martin, if you think that's bad, you should hear R. Kelly's 5 part "Trapped in the closet" song. Hilarious

A few years ago when he had those hits I listened to his album "R". Man that was boring.

Btw that title reminds me of "Keep it in the closet" from Michael Jackson, crap song that too. Thanks for not doing the puns.

 

[K10]

I always found it funny that you liked Will Smith.

He's terrible in everything. Well except one thing where he was the best, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by K10 ] ++
I always found it funny that you liked Will Smith.

He's terrible in everything. Well except one thing where he was the best, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Most people do

If you don't find him charming or funny, I guess that would have to be the conclusion

 

[Zlatan]

I like Will Smith too.

 

[Holdon]

If only all hip-hop could be like Will Smith.

 

[Seven]

Look, was it ever going to be a good album? Would any hip-hop star make a good album anyway?

 

[Tom]

++ [ originally posted by Seven ] ++
Look, was it ever going to be a good album? Would any hip-hop star make a good album anyway?

SO true!

 

[adams]

I think Jay Z makes good albums. A couple others arent that bad.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Seven ] ++
Look, was it ever going to be a good album? Would any hip-hop star make a good album anyway?

it so rarely happens indeed

 

[KB824]

Dear Martin,


Will Smith sucks donkey ass.

I remember telling you this a year ago, but you refused to listen to me. You should learn to listen and take in the knowledge being bestowed upon you by your elders.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Sergio ] ++
Dear Martin,


Will Smith sucks donkey ass.

I remember telling you this a year ago, but you refused to listen to me. You should learn to listen and take in the knowledge being bestowed upon you by your elders.

Ah but if he does, then who doesn't?