He got his start as part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. He became an actor when he starred on the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Will Smith, a teenager from Philadelphia sent to live with his rich relatives in Southern California.

Did Will Smith rap before Fresh Prince of Bel Air?

Career. Before the series, he was primarily known as one-half of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince where they had hits such as "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime". In 1990, the struggling Smith was signed to a contract and had a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air built around him.

Was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air a rapper?

The man formerly known as the Fresh Prince won the first rap Grammy, but is rarely looked upon as an impactful artist these days. His evolution in hip-hop is more interesting than he's given credit for.

How did Will Smith get the role of Fresh Prince?

Speaking of the impromptu audition, Will said: “I was like f*** it then. I said yes and I let it rip and I got to the end and everyone's clapping.” His performance impressed those gathered enough that Jones quickly demanded his lawyers draw up a contract for Smith to play the lead in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Is Fresh Prince based on Will Smith's life?

Smith. The television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which began in 1990, was loosely based on Smith's real-life persona. It ran on NBC for six successful seasons, ending at the star's request, and during its run Smith garnered two Golden Globe Award nominations and served as an executive…

How I Became The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | STORYTIME

When did Will Smith start rapping?

Smith began rapping at age 12.

Why did Will Smith call himself Fresh Prince?

Smith's charming and mischievous personality earned him the nickname "Prince," which eventually became "Fresh Prince".

Was Will Smith a rapper first?

In the late 1980s, Smith achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Did Jada Pinkett Smith appear in Fresh Prince?

They briefly met in 1994 when Pinkett Smith auditioned for a role as Smith's character's girlfriend on the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Unfortunately, the five-foot actress didn't get the part because she was too short. Instead, the role went to Nia Long.

What role did Jada Pinkett play in Fresh Prince?

She met Will Smith in 1994 on the set of Smith's television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, when she auditioned for the role of his character's girlfriend, Lisa Wilkes. She was considered too short and the role went to actress Nia Long.

Is DJ Jazzy Jeff still friends with Will Smith?

Will Smith and Jeff Townes have remained close friends and claim they never split up, having made songs together under Smith's solo performer credit. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince have sold over 5.5 million albums in the US.

What was Will Smith called when he was a rapper?

After Will Smith met Jeff Townes at age 16, the duo launched a highly successful rap career as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Smith starred on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for six seasons, before establishing himself as a Hollywood A-lister with Bad Boys (1995) and Independence Day (1996).

Who is Will Smith's favorite rapper?

The actor and rapper took to Facebook where he posted the visual for Joyner Lucas' latest single. “Broski,” while singing the artist's praises. “My Favorite Rapper!,” Smith wrote Smith, alongside the clip.

Did Will Smith actually move to Bel-Air?

The original Fresh Prince of Bel-Air followed Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, moving from West Philadelphia to the rich California neighborhood of Bel-Air for a brighter future.

How old was Will Smith during Fresh Prince?

Like many scripted shows, Smith was quite a few years older than the teenage character he was playing. When the first episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in September 1990, Smith was 22 years old. Banks was 23 years old when the first episode of Bel-Air aired in February 2022.

How much is Will Smith worth 2023?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Will Smith's net worth is $350 million as of 2023. These earnings are thanks to an entertainment career spanning over three decades, from his work as a rapper to his many roles as an actor and producer behind the scenes.

What college did Will Smith go to in Fresh Prince?

Princeton University starts talking to students at Will & Carlton's school about admissions to the university. Will is accepted, but Carlton is not. At night, Carlton has a vision of his gua... Read all.

Who is considered the first rapper?

Kool Herc and Coke La Rock

La Rock was born in The Bronx, New York City on April 24, 1955, with family roots going back to North Carolina. Coke La Rock was a friend and musical partner of DJ Kool Herc, who himself is generally considered to have laid down the foundation for hip-hop music starting in 1973.

What year did Will Smith make his first song?

Will Smith's first song “Just The Two Of Us (feat. Brian McKnight)” released on September 22, 1988.

Who came up with the idea of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom created by Andy and Susan Borowitz for NBC. It aired from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996.

Is The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air House Real?

For starters, the luxe mansion featured in Bel-Air is actually not located there in real life; instead, it's on the east side of Los Angeles, in the Bradbury Estates neighborhood, reveals Kaplan.

Who was Will Smith's first wife?

Sheree Zampino was married to Will Smith for three years, and the two share one son, Trey Smith. Both went on to marry other people — Smith tied the knot with actress Jada Pinkett Smith in December 1997, while Zampino married former NFL player Terrell Fletcher in 2007 (although they divorced in 2014).