Random Rant pt. 6: Fresh Prince = hip hop?

With hip-hop kinda on the upswing when it comes to talent and originality, I just wanna address the topic: Is or was Will Smith hip hop?...Now I must admit the Fresh Prince has made some extremely pop songs (pop is what i dispise) that I've found immensely catchy. [SIDEBAR: I remember when Men in Black came out in '97 I believe and Will came out with the title track for the sdtk. and I knew every word including the corny dance that was on the video...i liked that cut]...

Now back to the question at hand, to me the Fresh Prince is hip hop...Now he is not the hip-hop of KRS-One, Rakim or Jay-Z, but he is hip hop...For instance, his tv show that ran for over 6 seasons was the first national broadcast show that heavily incorporated hip hop into the show...in the theme song he's spitin, his clothes especially in the early seasons were hip hop inspired and the guest cast members were either hip hop influenced artists (queen latifah, dj jazzy jeff, BBD) or actors that the hip hop community embraced (Tisha Campbell, Don Cheadle, Jasmine Guy, Nia Long)

When it comes to his lyrical content, the Fresh one doesn't have gun talk, trap rap, tough bravado or even braggadicio lyrics about his wealth...But you must admit his bubble gum content does show his lyrical skill...his delivery is nice and he can flow over a track...one of the greatest summer tracks of all time is "Summertime" and he flowed nicely over the Jazzy Jeff produced track...with the garbage content and talent that some of these rappers spit over the airwaves, you've gotta admit that Mr. Smith can actually rap...just because he doesn't curse and say all types of outlandish, far fetched gansta folklore (though i do like and listen to this type of rap, "its just entertainment") doesn't mean he isn't hip hop...

Also his former running mate is one of the best producers in hip hop still (go cop the The Magnificent and The Return of the Magnificent)...just that alone solidifies the Fresh Prince status as a hip hop artist...not to mention he opened the flood gates for hip hop artists to become silver screen stars...

If Lil Jon can be considered hip-hop when he barely even raps on a track then for damn sho Will Smith can be hip-hop...

P.S. - Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff were the first artists on Yo! MTV raps...c'mon give him some respect

holla,
(4o)ur