The entertainment industry has a hand in raising a lot of individuals; second and third generation actors, musicians, people behind the scenes that you never see whose presence is essential in the progression of “the business”. Will Smith is one of those individuals having made a name behind the scenes for a couple of decades. His professional endeavors took their first step with the record label that was the ground breaking institution for hip-hop here on the west coast, Ruthless Records. Will Smith interned under the guide and tutelage of the late, great Eric “Eazy-E” Wright. He learned guide lines from the men who wrote the blueprint for success in a budding industry that was just given birth.
Will Smith has witnessed first-hand how a successful industry was created, and nurtured, through the good, the bad, and the ugly. He had learned both what to, and what not to do all in one establishment. If it is true that everyone should be knowledgeable of history as a tool of reflection, and use it to build a solid future.
At the end of that situation, with the passing of Eazy-E, Will Smith began nurturing his DJ’ing skills. Stepping from the background to front stage, he began making a name for himself as a top notch DJ going by the street name of “DJ Swindle”. Working at top-notch clubs, he caught the attention from many major names and made contacts with a lot of heavy hitters in the music industry. These contacts would become useful in the future endeavors of his career.
One of these connections came in the form of a G-Unit representative. The relationship grew into a job offer in the marketing division of one of, if not the highest grossing hip-hop empires to date. Not that this wasn’t enough, Will Smith also used his many connections to line up shows for friends who soon became clients of Swindle Productions. He booked many shows for many unsigned and established artists at all the hot spots in the Hollywood area. Running his own empire while learning from another, has helped him shape his own personal leadership skills, and created a business mind that is unrivaled by many.
Will Smith is the embodiment of knowledge and know-how, with a track record of hard work, determination and drive. He has managed to make his presence felt, even when his presence was unseen by outsiders. There is an old saying; “If you don’t know hip-hop, you can’t sell hip-hop”. Due to the amount of “flash in the pan artists” and products, that adage seems to reign true on many levels. As long as he remains true to this culture of entertainment and hip-hop in general, there will always be a pulse and a chance for the industry to thrive again