Will Smith is venturing into uncharted territory by starring in a new podcast series produced by Wondery and Audible. This announcement follows his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, revealing that they have been discreetly separated for the past seven years, despite making a public appearance together at the Oscars last year.
Smith‘s emotional reaction to a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s haircut, which was affected by alopecia, made headlines during that occasion, as he confronted comic Chris Rock.
Despite their divorce, Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith maintain a unified front in public. During a recent visit on Jada Pinkett Smith’s autobiographical book tour, “Worthy,” Smith referred to her as his “best friend on this planet.”
Smith’s next effort, however, will be a solo one: he will host the “Class of ’88” podcast series, which will be released on October 26. “Class of ’88,” an eight-part limited podcast series, is a collaboration between Wondery, Audible, Westbrook, and Awfully Nice. It will be available exclusively on Amazon Music and Audible, with episodes distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts on a weekly basis.
The podcast focuses on hip-hop’s impact on the United States from its inception in 1988. Smith will host the series, which will explore significant moments, albums, and musicians that have fueled the history of hip-hop music, according to the Daily Mail.
The year 1988 had a major impact on many elements of society, from fashion to film, and from the emergence of renowned performers such as Public Enemy to the ascent of The Fresh Prince. This time period saw the rise of celebrities and styles that have influenced modern music.
One of the defining milestones in hip hop that year for Smith was the success of his and Jazzy Jeff’s hit “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” which became a landmark track off their second album, “He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper.”
Smith is now considered one of Hollywood’s top actors, with a filmography that includes blockbusters such as “Independence Day,” “Men in Black,” “iRobot,” “Seven Pounds,” and his most recent 2022 release, the historical drama “Emancipation.”
DJ Jazzy Jeff has made waves in the music industry by playing records and generating creative tunes all over the world. According to the Los Angeles Times, he and DJs Spinbad and Cash Money were pioneers of the ‘transformer scratch’ method.
The “Class of ’88” audio series, which is enhanced with archive material, interviews with hip-hop celebrities, and personal anecdotes from Smith, reveals unseen stories from the key year in which hip-hop won against the barriers that aimed to stymie its ascension.
The series will feature interviews and narratives from influential hip-hop artists who made their mark in 1988 and beyond. Queen Latifah, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Fab Five Freddy, Rakim, and DJ Red Alert are among the artists on the bill.
Smith acknowledged his personal connection to hip-hop, which has been a fundamental part of his life for over four decades, in an interview with Billboard in September.