BlackFilm
Will Smith Interview 02

WM: Can you talk about the music?

Will Smith: I’ve got my new album is coming out. It’s called “Born to Reign”. It came out June 25 and if I can say it humbly, I think it’s one of the best albums you’re going to hear this year. It may sound like I’m gassin’ it up right now, but, you know, as a fan of music, this album is like, no songs you’re going to skip on it. It’s like the bottom line; it’s the truth.

WM: Is it hard to customize a song for a film?

WS: When you’re starting from day one on a film, it’s not difficult because you know the vibe of the film, you know how it looks, you know how it feels, I was writing during the film, when I’m in a scene that inspires me to write something. What I was trying to do with “Black Suits Coming” is essentially roll the creative dice, just do something that’s different. I think that people can hate a record or people can hate a movie, but as long as they respect the creative attempt, you give yourself life to try it again. Whereas, I think if you do the same thing, if you do something you’re supposed to be good at and it doesn’t work, then I think that’s when you really shoot yourself in the foot. So, I push the creative limits on that song and I push the creative limits on this album.

WM: Musically it seems like it kinda gives a nod to the rap/rock. Like the Lincoln Parks that are out there. Is that something you were conscious of doing?

WS: What I wanted to really do was take it. I used a 60-piece orchestra on that record. I wanted to do something you hadn’t heard in a long time. People aren’t making records with 40-piece string sections any more. 12 piece horn sections. People aren’t doing that anymore. What I wanted to do was to just create a sound and to be able to make a record that win, lose or draw was absolutely different sounding, different feeling and somewhat revolutionary in its retro-nature.

WM: What are you listening to now? What’s inspiring you, what’s been capturing your imagination?

WS: I’ve been traveling a lot, so I’ve been listening to everything. We were in Mozambique shooting “ALI” and there are these Portuguese rappers. I’ve got about three CD’s of these guys rapping in Portuguese. It’s just crazy how people outside of the United States are just really so open to expand and do other things and put any kind of sound on the record. It doesn’t even matter what it is. The choices of drums, and the things that they make. Somebody’ll make something in their yard and use it on a record. It’s a lot more musical and creative freedom around the world and that’s kinda of what I’ve been trying to capture; a little bit of that essence on my record.

WM: What’s up with DJ Jeff. There has been talk of a reunion tour. Is that ever going to happen?

WS: Jeff and I still doing work together. He has an album coming out also called “The Magnificent” so Jeff has been doing some work on his album and I think that would be perfect now I’ve got my album coming out so if we can have some time to get out there. We just did the MTV Beach House together. So we’re definitely looking forward to having some time to get out there and perform a little bit.