In a candid revelation during the GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop event, Will Smith acknowledged the influence of one of the greatest in the game—Rakim. The Fresh Prince spilled the beans on the inspiration behind his iconic hit with DJ Jazzy Jeff, “Summertime.” While reminiscing about the recording process, Smith disclosed, “I couldn’t get my ‘happy-go-lucky’ high voice, and [the producer] just said, ‘Yo, just gimme that Rakim shit.'”
Speculations had long swirled within the hip-hop community, suggesting that Rakim might have contributed to the lyrics of “Summertime.” However, a 2016 interview with HipHopDX set the record straight. Rakim dismissed claims of ghostwriting but acknowledged the intriguing backstory. Eric B., Rakim’s former partner, had previously asserted that they were supposed to jump on the “Summertime” beat for their own single.
Rakim clarified, “Nah, it was ironic that me and Eric B. had sampled it, and we had it ready to go. But when they came out with it, a lot of people thought it was me because of the style he used. But it was one of those things where that was them. I didn’t write it. That was Will and Jeff.”
Interestingly, Rakim approved of letting Will Smith run with the beat, recognizing its deviation from his signature style. Describing the sampled beat from “Summer Madness” by Kool & The Gang as “soft” for his baritone, Rakim admitted, “It was something he had on the backburner, nahmean? You know, maybe it could’ve been hooked up a little more street-ready, and it was something that we thought was a hit record.”
Will Smith’s revelation adds another layer of appreciation to “Summertime,” showcasing not just the track’s musical brilliance but the collaborative and respectful spirit within the hip-hop community.
