THIS DAY IN HIP-HOP... WILL SMITH - BIG WILLIE STYLE

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Will Smith released his debut solo album Big Willie Style.

On this day in 1997, Will Smith released his debut solo studio album Big Willie Style on Columbia.  The album featured production mostly from Poke & Tone of the Trackmasters, as well as some from L.E.S. and DJ Jazzy Jeff.  Notable guest artists featured on the album included Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes from TLC, Camp Lo, and Cameo, along with Nas as a guest writer.

The album included the five hit singles "Men in Black," which was featured in the film Men in Black and won a Grammy; "Just Cruisin'," which reached #56 on the Billboard Hot 100; "Gettin' Jiggy wit It," which was certified multi-platinum and won a Grammy; "Just the Two of Us," which featured a sample from Bill Withers and peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100; and "Miami," which reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Big Willie Style peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200.  It reached #1 on the R&B chart.  The album stayed on the charts for ninety-nine weeks.  It was certified nine times platinum in the US.

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​Also on this day...

1987 - Run-D.M.C. released the single "Christmas in Hollis" on A&M.

1997 - Priority Records released the compilation In the Beginning... There Was Rap.

2014 - Nelly's reality show Nellyville premiered on BET.