Will Smith may be the Hollywood baddie cinephiles cannot get enough of but his impact on the record industry is just as undeniable as his blockbuster laps. Last year, Smith’s cinematic comeback came in tow with his musical resurgence, sparking anticipation among fans for the return of his golden era. But as he dwells deep within the world of the symphony with his razor-sharp focus on letting it define his artistry, it prompts a trip down the Grammy lanes when his collaborative track ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ with DJ Jazzy Jeff earned the first rap Grammy.

Looking back at how the track made Smith and Jeff stars, here is an overview of how it materialized.

‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ is the single by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff from their second studio album, ‘He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper,’ released in 1988, exactly 37 years ago, winning them a Grammy for Best Rap Performance. Still credited as one of the monumental drops of hip-hop, Brian Coleman shed light on the track in Technique Volume 2: More Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies with remarks from the artists associated. According to the DJ, they were initially against having it as their first single since they wanted something a bit more “hip-hop.”

On the contrary, Pete Q. Harris, one of the songwriters, knew it was a “smash hit” as soon as the track was complete. “We didn’t think it would get as big as it did,” Jeff mused, eventually reflecting on the song’s power of relatability. Although Jeff was unsure if the track would have been as influential had it been released some years before or after, he praised Smith’s songwriting prowess, adding it took the controversial Oscar-winner barely 15 minutes to write the lyric once the concept was set in stone.

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DJ Jazzy Jeff went on to reveal the track comprised Will Smith’s real experiences, but at one point in time, they were truly unaware of how it was doing with the audiences. 

In Brian Coleman’s Technique Volume 2: More Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies, DJ Jazzy Jeff admitted that while he and Will Smith were touring for ‘He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper,’ they were clueless about how ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ was received on the radio. But one night, Smith performed the first verse followed by the first line of the second, leaving it upon the audience to finish it. Although Jeff thought it would end up in disaster, 20,000 people finished the verse on their behalf.

Producer Joe Nicolo recalled that ‘Girls Ain’t Nothing’ was a super hit in Philadelphia and ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’ “was a logical next step.” “That video changed Will’s career, and it changed my career, too,” Ann Carli from Jive Records said. Scott Kalvert directed the video, and it was reportedly done in 18 hours. While Pete Q. Harris already saw the potential way before the others did, Jeff credited the video as much for helping it get that big.

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