Page 19 - Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star

Getting Paid to Party
19
fellow rappers. Not lacking in confidence, Will boasted, “My
reputation came from beating other rappers in street
challenges. I never lost a street battle.”15
Will began to see rap as more than a hobby. He said, “I
was going to all those block parties, having fun and
competing with my raps. It suddenly occurred to me, ‘okay,
if I’m going to party, I might as well get paid for it.’”16
Will was just in seventh grade when he started earning
money as a rap disc jockey at parties. Within a few months,
he was writing his own lyrics and rapping, as well as running
the wheels of steel. Before long, Will had gained a reputation
as one of southwest Philadelphia’s red hot rappers.
Some of Will’s early rap lyrics included profanity. One day his
grandmother came across a page of lyrics he had written. After
reading them, she wrote across the page, “DearWillard, intelligent
people do not use these words to express themselves.”17 Will took
her scolding to heart and vowed never again to use swear words
in his lyrics. “I knew I wanted my grandmother’s approval,” he
later explained, “just as I wanted my parents’ approval.”18
Rap music was really catching fire, and Will’s DJ jobs
were keeping him busy. At home, however, there were major
changes in the Smith family. Will was thirteen when his
parents announced that theyweredivorcing.Will understood
that no matter what was happening, his parents loved their
children and wanted the best for them.19 Will went to live
with his mother, although he continued to stay close to his
father. During his early teens, he often spent his after-school
hours helping his father at work.