Vipa

I really agree with Def. Yes he’s having fun and doing his thing which I can respect, but it’s very forced. Listen to the new albums by LL, KRS, and the multiple recent albums by Nas. They adapted but still kept that old school vibe that makes them genuine. Will isn’t really doing that. I don’t know how else to word it. He’s not reading the room at all. 
 
one thing I always wanted to see Will do is come back and embrace hip hop. Work with some bigger producers. Spit real raps. Tap into his fresh prince side. But in reality he’s too busy trying to catch lightning in a bottle with a quick hit on some average beats. This isn’t what we wanted. I was listening to big Willie style the other day and it’s crazy how much more of an emcee he sounds like compared to today. Yes he was younger but that’s no excuse. Others can do it. No reason he can’t. 

I dont wanna sound too harsh, but this is what i honestly feel.
I don't know what it is, but Will sounds off. It's like he's trying too hard to come off as dominant, superior, hard and at the same time he lacks confidence... which gives me a feeling of not being authentic. I totally understand why people are annoyed, especially the younger generation. He probably comes off as somebody who just started rapping.
I have also read some comments and you really can't refute the criticism, when people f.e. point out that he rhymed "tonight" with "tonight" three times on Pretty Girls. His flow is very basic, his rhyme scheme is the same as 20 years ago. It looks like he never touched the pen in the past 20 years.
As i mentioned previously, i think he is way behind his peers like LL, Rakim, Nas, which is very sad. His rap persona ego is just too big compared to what he delivers.
I'm sorry that i couldn't be more positive and i don't wanna spoil the excitement, but as a long time fan i just had to express my true feelings.
I still hope that he will go back to his roots and make some fun storytelling tracks with Jeff.

The new song is cool and I’m glad Will is having fun with the music again, but I was thinking of something…he constantly talks about wanting to be respected as an artist. He wants his name in the same breath as Dre, Jay, Rakim, LL, Slick Rick, etc…but if he wants that we need some real hip hop. He needs to dig back deep to his roots. We know he’s capable of spitting bars. We need more tracks like Tantrum. These days it’s hard to sell and it’s even harder to get a hit like Jiggy…I feel like that’s kinda what he’s shooting for with a summer anthem like this but at the end of the day he has a chance to really do something to cement his name in hip hop. Not that that isn’t already in stone, but to really show out and prove himself in a rap game that’s currently lacking.
 
You look at Nas, LL, Dre, Snoop…these old heads are still spittin and still getting respect. I really hope these next 2 seasons have some real stuff. Just my two cents. If this is what he wants and he’s just having fun then I support it. 

FWIW, the r/CrappyMusic sub on reddit has already gotten its hands on this. To be fair they hate Will Smith, but stuff like this isn't going to help...Like i said in another thread, Im glad he's having fun, but he's fumbling a great opportunity here. LL, Snoop, Busta, KRS...They all recently released some dope albums. Will can do that, but he just seems apprehensive to deviate from what's brought him success in the past. And what did it in 97 isn't going to do it in '25. Do what Kendrick and Jay allegedly told you, and just spit that real ****. 

The new song is cool and I’m glad Will is having fun with the music again, but I was thinking of something…he constantly talks about wanting to be respected as an artist. He wants his name in the same breath as Dre, Jay, Rakim, LL, Slick Rick, etc…but if he wants that we need some real hip hop. He needs to dig back deep to his roots. We know he’s capable of spitting bars. We need more tracks like Tantrum. These days it’s hard to sell and it’s even harder to get a hit like Jiggy…I feel like that’s kinda what he’s shooting for with a summer anthem like this but at the end of the day he has a chance to really do something to cement his name in hip hop. Not that that isn’t already in stone, but to really show out and prove himself in a rap game that’s currently lacking.
 
You look at Nas, LL, Dre, Snoop…these old heads are still spittin and still getting respect. I really hope these next 2 seasons have some real stuff. Just my two cents. If this is what he wants and he’s just having fun then I support it. 

The new song is cool and I’m glad Will is having fun with the music again, but I was thinking of something…he constantly talks about wanting to be respected as an artist. He wants his name in the same breath as Dre, Jay, Rakim, LL, Slick Rick, etc…but if he wants that we need some real hip hop. He needs to dig back deep to his roots. We know he’s capable of spitting bars. We need more tracks like Tantrum. These days it’s hard to sell and it’s even harder to get a hit like Jiggy…I feel like that’s kinda what he’s shooting for with a summer anthem like this but at the end of the day he has a chance to really do something to cement his name in hip hop. Not that that isn’t already in stone, but to really show out and prove himself in a rap game that’s currently lacking.
 
You look at Nas, LL, Dre, Snoop…these old heads are still spittin and still getting respect. I really hope these next 2 seasons have some real stuff. Just my two cents. If this is what he wants and he’s just having fun then I support it. 

I thought Nore was fine. it was just a bunch of friends vibin'....But interviews like this remind me why i became a fan of Will Smith and stayed one for 3+ decades. its an understatement to say he's deep. Its not just the same old cliche answers. Some of what he says can resonate with me. What he said about death at the end really touched me due to some personal things. I can relate to everything he said about his sister in that part is the short of it....But that aside he's just a very human, and humble person. Great interview. 

Damn. Will spazzed on that Attention joint. Might be one of his best tracks. 

The tracklist seems to be missing some features. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFLPpTrRpAJ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
 
dope that he’s working with other established artists like this. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFLPpTrRpAJ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
 
dope that he’s working with other established artists like this. 

the Song and Video are amazing. I can not wait for this album

the Song and Video are amazing. I can not wait for this album

the Song and Video are amazing. I can not wait for this album

the new song is flames. I'm glad he's kinda branching out, you can see the influence from everyone he had reportedly worked with in the past couple of years. This album is gonna be the one, can't wait for it. 

Yea, of course places like reddit have a hivemind and are still whining about the slap (i swear they act like he murdered their dog on stage), but the overall consensus is positive...Seems like people are willing to give him a 2nd chance, finally. I don't know how "Over" the new music will be in today's market, but i think people are intrigued to say the least, especially after that performance. 

I recently had a chance to add something really dope to my collection. I'm hoping its one of the original tapes that were sent out in the late 90s and not a reproduction, but either way its a nice piece to own. Listened to this mixtape countless times, might be my favorite of his too.
https://imgur.com/a/UcF58ty
 

Honestly, the movies he had in production are in Limbo right now. I don't think he'll be able to pick up the Hollywood pieces for awhile.
 
Will, Brother, use this time to find yourself again, because you've clearly lost something along the way. Get your mind right...Then maybe vent on some beats from Jeff and put that out in the time being. Go back to your roots. 

Keep in mind, I've often heard Will refer to individual songs or singles as "records"...so if you add up all his single and album sales, billboard charts, etc, he's probably around there. 

the rust is shaking off. its been 13 years but we might finally get some real ish...

https://www.amazon.com/Hes-DJ-Rapper-Expanded-2-CD/dp/B073W7HQRL
Randomly came across this tonight, looks like it came out earlier this month...
 
Doesn't seem to be anything we haven't heard before but the description does say its been remastered and it comes with some extra art work. 

Was this thread really necessary? or at least did you need to word it like that? We know you don't like Lil Wayne and no one is forcing you to listen to him or even like him as a person...Why go out of your way like this? That said, out of context the video is pretty funny. In context it's confusing.

Was it Project Pat or Petey Pablo?

They should really put out some kind of "Lost Tapes" album...Just a collection of unreleased material from over the years...