Willenium

11/16/1999 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Billy Johnson Jr

All pop-hop artists do the same thing. They sell millions of records, and when they are ousted from the hip-hop community for getting too jiggy, they come back, crying.

Will Smith works hard to remind us of the days when he was appreciated in hip-hop circles by incorporating plenty of nostalgic hip-hop sensibilities, and it's welcomed. There's beatboxing and storytelling from the masters Biz Markie and Slick Rick ("So Fresh"). "Rapper's Delight" type rhymes from Lil' Kim ("Da Butta"). And a multitude of '70s samples of everything from LTD's "Back In Love Again" to the School House Rock jingle "Figure Eight" (you won't believe it until you hear it). There's even "Potnas," a modernized rendition of Whodini's "Friends" produced by none other than Smith's old homie Jazzy Jeff, who thankfully tackles most of the album's production.

But it's actually Smith's time travels--as also displayed in the "Will 2K" video--that remind us of his refreshing "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," "Brand New Funk," and "Summertime" that make the present so painful. Whether responding to those who dismiss his popularity ("Da Butta," "Uuhhh"), attempting to be too cool ("Will 2K," "Wild, Wild West," "Can You Feel Me?") or too suave ("The Rain," "No More"), vocally, Will doesn't impress. Added collabs from Eve, Tatyana Ali, M.C. Lyte, and K-Ci help, but I'd pay to get just one more good record from the simply honest and goofy Fresh Prince.