Big Willie Style
| Big Willie Style | ||||
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| Studio album by Will Smith | ||||
| Released | November 25, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1996–97 | |||
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| Label | Columbia | |||
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| Singles from Big Willie Style | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Entertainment Weekly | C– |
| Rolling Stone |  |
Big Willie Style is the debut studio album by American rapper Will Smith. It was released on November 25, 1997, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions took place from 1996 to 1997, with a range of several record producers that Will was working with such as Poke & Tone and his former collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff on the album. The album reached the top ten on both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart, and later became a certified multi-platinum in a number of regions and countries. The album was supported by five singles: "Men in Black", "Just Cruisin'", "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", "Just the Two of Us" and "Miami".
After releasing five albums as part of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Smith turned his focus to acting, starring in films such as Bad Boys and Independence Day. During the same period he recorded his first solo album, including the single "Men in Black", which is the theme song to the film of the same name, which topped singles charts in a number of countries. Big Willie Style went on to become Smith's most commercially successful album, earning him a number of music awards and nominations.
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").
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