PHILADELPHIA — In the neighborhood of West Philadelphia, where he spent his early years, a street has now been named in honor of Will Smith. Philadelphia’s Mayor, Cherelle Parker, along with other city officials, paid tribute to the acclaimed actor and musician by dedicating a street beside his former high school.
During a ceremony held at a part of 59th Street which now carries his name, Smith expressed his deep connection to the city. “Philly, I love you. I am yours. You are mine,” he said. Reflecting on his upbringing, Smith spoke of how his parents instilled in him the importance of hard work and education before he rose to fame as a rapper and actor.
“Nobody gets an easy ride,” Smith declared. “That was one of the things these streets of Philadelphia taught me: that there’s nothing wrong with a hard day’s work.”
In attendance was a former teacher who first dubbed him “Prince Charming,” a moniker he modified to become “The Fresh Prince.” This was immortalized in his 1990s TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” where he portrayed a young man from Philadelphia who moves to Los Angeles to live with relatives.
Pointing towards Overbrook High School, Smith recounted, “The name ‘The Fresh Prince’ was coined in that building.” He added, “I included the ‘fresh’ because it was hip-hop slang.”
Smith is set to release his fifth studio album, titled “Based on a True Story,” this Friday. This marks his return to music after two decades, following his previous album “Lost and Found.” His accolades include Grammy awards for hits like “Summertime,” “Men In Black,” “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” Additionally, his film career includes significant roles in “Bad Boys,” “Men in Black,” and “King Richard.”