While many rappers have evolved into commendable actors, few can boast anything close to the cinematic career of Will Smith. With twenty-seven films under his name, nine albums (four solo, five with DJ Jazzy Jeff), two Academy Award nominations, and four Grammy awards, Smith’s varied repertoire cements him as a bonafide cultural icon. Though a starring turn on NBC’s The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air brought Will’s presence to the masses, his roots were entrenched in hip-hop five years before Uncle Phil came into the picture. Between the years of 1985 and 1990, Smith and his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff dropped off three albums on Jive Records, a run that would put Smith on NBC’s radar to begin with.

Though Smith had no shortage of hits and wholesome jams under his belt, his turn on Fresh Prince brought the iconic “Yo Home To Bel Air” to the masses. Written by Quincy Jones, the song that many would come to simply dub “The Fresh Prince Theme Song” marked Will’s first foray into the bountiful world of wholesome cinematic bangers. Picking up where breakout single “Girls Ain’t Nothin But Trouble” left off, Will expanded on the storytelling foundation he laid down prior, this time delving deeper into character. Will’s transition from the playground to the lavish mansions of Bel Air played out like the musical equivalent of method acting, bridging a multimedia gap to create an immersive, and borderline metafictional experience. His accounts on Fresh Prince felt closer to autobiography than fiction, a line blurred all the more given that he was ostensibly playing himself. Needless to say, the song skyrocketed into popularity, eventually dropping as a single in 1992.