Editing Will Smith (section)

== West Philadelphia Upbringing ==

Willard Carroll Smith II was born on September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia, growing up in the Wynnefield neighborhood of West Philadelphia. His parents—Willard C. Smith Sr., a refrigeration engineer, and Caroline Bright, a school administrator—provided a middle-class upbringing that distinguished his background from the street narratives that dominated hip-hop. Smith attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic school and later Overbrook High School, where his wit and charisma earned him the nickname "Prince" from teachers who noted his ability to charm his way out of difficult situations.<ref name="bradley">{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=Adam |title=Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop |year=2009 |publisher=Basic Civitas |location=New York}}</ref>

Smith met Jeffrey Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff) at a house party in 1985, beginning a partnership that would launch both their careers. Jeff's turntable skills combined with Smith's verbal ability to create a sound that emphasized humor and storytelling over the harder edges that characterized much contemporary hip-hop. Their approach reflected Smith's personality and background, creating music that parents could accept while still earning respect from hip-hop audiences who recognized genuine ability beneath the accessible surface.<ref name="smith"/>