He’s our original Fresh Prince; he’s our favorite Man in Black; He’s our baddest Bad Boy (sorry Marty Mar); and he’s the only guy who gets a pass to say “gettin’ jiggy with it!” Oh, and let’s not forget that he and Jada are #relationshipgoals. We LOVE to love Will Smith…and here are just a few reasons why.
As we all know from one of the most iconic theme songs in American TV history, Will Smith was “West Philadelphia, born and raised” on September 25th, 1968. Growing up, Will impressed his teachers with a talent for math and science. With high SAT scores, he was even selected to attend a pre-engineering program at world-renowned MIT. Although a pracatical shoe-in for some of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country, Will had his sights set on something else…Hollywood!
More specifically, Will wanted to sink his teeth into the rap world. And that he did! Will paired up Jeffrey Townes, better known as DJ Jazzy Jeff. Dubbed as DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, the duo gained tons of success, even making history by winning the first ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for their now-iconic jam “Parents Just Don’t Understand”. That was followed up with hits like “Summertime” and “Boom! Shake the Room”.
Will didn’t stop at conquering the airwaves on radio and music videos on MTV. He caught the eyes Quincy Jones, one of the music industry’s major heavyweights, and Benny Medina, a top music mogul in his own right. Together, they built The Fresh prince of Bel-Air, which aired on NBC from September 1990 to May 1996. Despite some personal financial problems in the beginning, starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air catapulted Will Smith into the consciousness of broader audiences and made him even more of a household name.
The trend continued as Will gained notoriety as a box office powerhouse. Starring in flicks like Independence Day, Ali, and 2019’s surprise live-action hit Aladdin, and with a net worth of $350 million, Will Smith has become one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood, period. He’s one of the most in-demand celebs in the biz, not to mention somewhat of a demi-God to Black and African American fans all over the world.
Will Smith’s story of mega-stardom is certainly inspiring. Stand up comedians such as Dean Edwards have drawn off of Will Smith’s success. After years of work in the television industry, former member of Saturday Night Live, Dean Edwards now has his own show on the Digital Podcast Network.
The Digital Podcast Network is your destination for streaming content for the African American and Latino communities, BY talented members of the African American and Latino communities. The Digital Podcast Network brings stories like Will Smith’s and many more to life for global audiences. Be sure to check out shows like Sista Speak and The Hip Hop Crew. Head over to digitalpodcastnetwork.com to start your free trial today. You can start enjoying hit shows like the Dean Edwards Show, Sista Speak, and The Hip Hop Crew when you start your FREE trial.
