Will Smith
Lost and Found
(Interscope **1/2)
On his ninth CD, Will Smith takes on the intersection of Hollywood and West Philly as if jovially taking on another amiable movie role. Mostly, it's business as usual.
The stutter-tronic "Switch" is the party track. In accordance with hip-hop law, Snoop Dogg appears. "Here He Comes" features a patented Smith sample gleaned from our childhood, the Spider-Man TV cartoon theme, with chunky beats by ex-partner Jazzy Jeff.
Big Willie makes merry about getting dissed by Eminem, blabbing happily about getting reamed by rap radio. So what, right? With more than one reference to making "20 mil," you can't help but think that Smith is giggling all the way to his broker.
But listen harder. Smith ain't feeling quite so jiggy.
"Sometimes y'all mistake nice for soft, so before I go off..." spits Smith on "Mr. Niceguy," taking on haters through bucking rhythms with the sort of veiled threats his Shark Tale costar Bob De Niro usually proffers. When not busy taking the offensive on being defensive, Smith wails on religious hypocrisy, star-stalkers, and the rap game's relentless copycatting (from Smith, yet, goes the boast of the title track) with a sneer to match his cheer.
Sure, he's ham-fisted. Smith may not show the brilliant flow of Ludacris or the foul functionality of 50 Cent. But at least he acts the part nicely.
- A.D. Amorosi