Born to Reign

Personnel includes: Will Smith (vocals); Annas Allaf (guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); Bob Chiarelli (guitar, bass); Jaime Muhoberac (keyboards); Mar'laina Kemp (background vocals); Tra-Knox.
Producers include: Poke & Tone, Tony Dofat, L.E.S., Rick Rock, Rico Anderson.
Partially recorded at The Hacienda, Los Angeles, California.
2002 found rapper/actor/master of the summer song Will Smith dropping his third solo joint BORN TO REIGN on fans well aware of the Philly native's role in the blockbuster sequel MEN IN BLACK II. Keeping in time with the creative synergy that's defined Smith's creative output, REIGN features two versions of the aforementioned film's theme "Black Suits Comin (Nod Ya Head)"--a guitar-and-strings-driven single and a remix featuring Nickelodeon's Taina (aka Christina Vidal) making like a poor man's Jennifer Lopez.
Big Willy also reinforces his family-friendly rep with a duet featuring surprisingly solid singing spouse Jada Pinkett-Smith ("1,000 Kisses" with a sample of Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much"), a faux-reggae tribute to his daughter ("Willow Is A Player"), and props to his mom (the thumping "Momma Knows"). Smith has fun snapping off a bit of Ricky Martin-esque Latin pop (the Gipsy Kings-sampling "I Can't Stop") and name-checking Denzel and Russell Crowe on a funky love letter to hip-hop ("How Da Beat Goes"). BORN TO REIGN reinforces Smith's dominance of the crossover kingdom of rap and pop.