Page 73 - Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star

Tech Junkie Superstar
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Like Smith’s previous action hit, Men in Black opened
on Independence Day weekend. Also like Independence
Day, Men in Black was a smash hit and it earned more
money than any other movie for the entire year of 1997. 3
The reviews for both Smith and Jones were superb. The
movie gave rise to a fashion fad, as young people
everywhere dressed in black and donned Ray-Ban
sunglasses to look like Agents J and K. On top of that, a
toy company produced Men in Black action figures.
Men in Black had one additional bonus. It revived
Smith’s music career, which had slowed down. Smith
performed the movie’s theme song, a rap number titled
“Men in Black.” Smith was now a solo artist, performing
under his real name.
For four weeks in the summer of 1997, Billboard
magazine’s charts ranked the movie’s theme song as
number one across the United States in radio airplay. 4
Smith included the song on his first solo album, Big Willie
Style, which was released in November.
What did Smith mean by Big Willie Style? “A Willie is
someone who is great at something,” said Smith. “Michael
Jordan, for instance, is a basketball Willie.” 5 Another
time he said, “Being a Big Willie is not about what kind
of car you drive, it’s not really that. Being a Willie is in
your attitude.” 6 Smith further explained that being
brainy has a lot to do with it. “For me, the ultimate
Willie tool, the Willie measuring stick, the Willie litmus
test is intellect.” 7