Page 5 - Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star

5
B y the time he was thirteen years old, Will Smith
was already known as a rapper on the street corners
of Philadelphia. Seven years later, he was up for
one of the music industry’s highest honors. It was February
1989, and the setting was the annual Grammy Awards
ceremony. Grammys are given every year by the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to honor
the best performances of the previous year.
Will Smith and Jeff Townes were recording together as
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. They had been nominated
for a Grammy in the category of best rap performance for
the song “Parents Just Don’t Understand” on their album
Rappin’ Into
History
Chapter 1