Big Willie Style

Recording and production

Recording for Big Willie Style took place mainly in New York City – four tracks ("Y'All Know", "Chasing Forever", "Miami" and "Just Cruisin'") were recorded at The Hit Factory, and four tracks ("Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Candy", "Yes Yes Y'All" and "Big Willie Style") were recorded at Right Track Studios. Three tracks ("Don't Say Nothin'", "I Loved You" and "It's All Good") were recorded at DJ Jazzy Jeff's A Touch of Jazz Studios, in Smith's hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and "Just the Two of Us" was recorded at Pacifique Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. Production in New York City was shared mainly between Poke & Tone and L.E.S., while DJ Jazzy Jeff produced the Philadelphia tracks; "Just the Two of Us" was produced by Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. Other contributing producers were Keith Pelzer, Ryan Toby (both on "Don't Say Nothin'" and "I Loved You"), Andreao Heard ("Y'All Know") and Valvin Roane ("I Loved You").

The songs on the album are broken up by a number of interludes featuring exchanges between Smith and the fictional character Keith B-Real, an "hilarious" magazine editor and motivational-tape artist. B-Real is voiced by actor Jamie Foxx. All four of the "Keith B-Real" skits (including "Intro") were recorded by Jean-Claude Olivier – Poke of Poke & Tone – at The Hacienda in Los Angeles, California, and co-produced by Smith.

Lyrics

As with Smith's previous releases with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Big Willie Style showcases a radio-friendly pop-rap sound with non-explicit lyrics. Speaking about the lyrics on Big Willie Style, Jamie Hunter of Rolling Stone noted that on the album Smith "takes pains to make clear that there is indeed life beyond the bottom line"; songs on the album feature themes of multiculturalism and monogamy, and see Smith telling "the larger story of rap values tweaking the American dream, of how he's come to terms with the conflict between the neighborhood and the global cineplex".

Music

The musical production on Big Willie Style is focused largely around samples of disco and soul music acts from the 1980s; artists sampled include Sister Sledge ("He's the Greatest Dancer" on "Gettin' Jiggy wit It"), Stevie Wonder ("Ribbon in the Sky" on "Chasing Forever"), and The Whispers ("And the Beat Goes On" on "Miami").

Promotion and release

The release of Big Willie Style was preceded by the single "Men in Black" in June 1997, originally released on Men in Black: The Album. The title track to the film of the same name was a commercial success, topping singles charts in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, where it remained atop the chart for four weeks. "Just Cruisin'" was released as the album's second single in December, charting at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart.

In January 1998, "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" was released as the third single from the album to great commercial success – it became the first single by Smith to top the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and also reached the top ten in numerous other regions. "Just the Two of Us" and "Miami" were the final two singles released from the album, and both enjoyed mild commercial success in the US by reaching the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100; the singles were more successful in the UK, however, where they reached number two and number three on the UK Singles Chart, respectively.

Commercial

Big Willie Style was a commercial success. Reaching a peak position of number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, it remained on the chart for a total of 99 weeks. On the UK Albums Chart, the record entered at number 63 in December 1997, remaining in the top 100 for 29 weeks; in July the following year the album returned to the top 100, and by January 1999 it had reached its peak position of number nine. In total, the album spent 87 weeks in the UK top 100, during three separate periods. Other regions in which the album peaked in the top ten include France (#5), Norway (#8) and the Netherlands (#9). In 1999, Billboard reported that Big Willie Style had been the 39th best-selling pop album of the period between 1990 and 1999.

By July 2000, Big Willie Style had been certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicating US sales of over nine million units. The album is also certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, indicating Australian sales of over 35,000 units, double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, indicating sales in the UK of over 600,000 units, and six times platinum by Music Canada, indicating Canadian sales of over 600,000 units.

Critical

Media response to Big Willie Style was mixed. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of website AllMusic awarded the album four out of five stars, praising Smith's "trademark ... friendly, humorous pop-rap" style, which he pointed out had been modernised since his releases with DJ Jazzy Jeff. In particular, Erlewine highlighted the songs "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Candy", "I Loved You" and "Men in Black" as "among his best" songs. Rolling Stone writer James Hunter was similarly positive, describing the album as "wickedly well-conceived", praising the album's "delicious party jams" and noting "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" and "Yes Yes Y'All" as particular highlights. He concludes by praising the lyrical themes of the album, dubbing Big Willie Style "an exceptional megacelebrity album".

Entertainment Weekly writer Jim Farber, however, slated the album, describing it as being full of "nonstop pop-rap clichés" and claiming that "The musical world suffered no great loss when Will Smith ditched rapping for acting". Critic Robert Christgau categorised the singles "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Just the Two of Us" and "Miami" as "good [songs] on an album that isn't worth your time or money".

Accolades and awards

Big Willie Style earned Smith recognition at a number of music industry awards ceremonies. At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video for "Men in Black" won the award for Best Video from a Film, and received nominations for Best Male Video, Best Choreography and Best Special Effects. Smith won again at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving awards for Best Male Video and Best Rap Video for "Just the Two of Us" and "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", respectively, as well as nominations for Video of the Year, Best Dance Video, Best Choreography and Viewer's Choice, all for "Gettin' Jiggy wit It". "Miami" won the award for Best Male Video and received nominations for Best Special Effects and Best Cinematography at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.

Smith won his third and fourth Grammy Awards for his work on Big Willie Style – "Men in Black" won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards in February 1998, and Smith retained the award the following year at the 41st Grammy Awards, when he won for "Gettin' Jiggy wit It". At the 26th American Music Awards in January 1999, he was nominated in the categories of Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist (which he lost to Eric Clapton) and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist (which he won), while the album was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album, both of which it won. Also in 1999, Smith received three NAACP Image Awards – Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Music Video (for "Just the Two of Us") and Outstanding Rap Artist, and was named Favorite Singer at the 1999 Kids' Choice Awards.

In 2000, music television network VH1 compiled their 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, including Smith's Big Willie Style single "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" at number 100.

Track listing

Personnel

Personnel credits adapted from liner notes.