Will Smith Gets a Street Named in the Philadelphia Neighborhood Where He Was Born and Raised
In West Philadelphia where he was born and raised, now there's a street called Will Smith Way.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and city leaders honored the Oscar and Grammy winner on Wednesday, renaming a street next to Smith's old high school.
"Philly, I love you. I am yours. You are mine," Smith said at a ceremony along a section of 59th Street that now bears his name.
He reminisced about learning the values of hard work and education from his mother and father before hitting it big as an actor and rapper.
"Nobody gets an easy ride," he said. "That was one of the things these streets of Philadelphia taught me: that there's nothing wrong with a hard day's work."
Among those who came out to see him was a former teacher who was the first to call him "Prince Charming" — a nickname he changed up a bit for the 1990s TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," in which Smith played a teenager from Philadelphia who goes to live with relatives in Los Angeles.
"The name `The Fresh Prince' was coined in that building," Smith said, pointing back at Overbrook High School. "I added the 'fresh' because it was hip-hop slang."
Smith will release his fifth studio album "Based on a True Story" on Friday. It's his first music project in two decades since "Lost and Found."
He won Grammys for "Summertime,Men In Black,Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Parents Just Don't Understand." He's also starred in the movies "Bad Boys,Men in Black" and "King Richard."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Singer Chris Brown in London Court on Assault Case
American R&B singer Chris Brown, the former boyfriend of superstar Rihanna, was due to appear in court Friday in London on assault charges. Brown was freed from UK custody last month on £5 million ($6.7 million) bail after his arrest in the northwestern city of Manchester, AFP said. Under the terms of his bail, which would see him forfeit the £5 million guarantee if he failed to return for court proceedings, the Grammy-winning Brown, 36, was given the go-ahead to continue his scheduled international tour, which began on June 8 in Amsterdam. The star, who had a troubled relationship with Barbadian singer Rihanna, is currently performing the UK leg of his tour, with his next date in London on Saturday. Concerts are also scheduled in France, Portugal and the US later in the year, before the tour wraps up in Memphis in mid-October. The star is charged with "grievous bodily harm with intent" in relation to an assault in which the victim was allegedly struck several times with a bottle before being pursued, punched and kicked. The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square in London on February 19, 2023 while Brown was touring in the UK. Police detained him in the early hours of May 13 at a five-star hotel in Manchester after he reportedly flew in by private jet. Judge Tony Baumgartner, at Southwark Crown Court in London, last month ordered that he could be freed on bail, and also stipulated that he should surrender his passport if he is not travelling. He is required to live at a specific address known to the court and is not permitted to visit the nightclub were the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim, Abraham Diah. Co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old US national, has also been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent. Brown is known for mid-2000s hits such as "Kiss, Kiss". He rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation has been tarnished by the allegations of abuse.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Harnessing Africa's creative boom
In February, Afrobeats singer Tems won the Grammy for Best African Music Performance. Her achievement underscores the genre's growing popularity, exemplified by more than 15 billion streams on Spotify. It is also part of a broader cultural renaissance, as Africa's creative industries — from music and film to fashion — rapidly expand their global reach. African culture's rise to prominence could play a major role in the continent's economic transformation, offering significant opportunities for a large and growing youth population. The creative industries are projected to account for 4 percent of Africa's gross domestic product and up to 10 percent of global creative exports by 2030, creating more than 20 million new jobs. As I highlight in a new report, the growth of Africa's creative industries is driven by two major forces: digitalization and demographic shifts. But to unlock the sector's full economic potential, policymakers must make strategic investments and implement targeted reforms. Digital innovation is rapidly reshaping Africa's cultural landscape, creating new pathways to economic development. Increased access to emerging technologies is fueling the rise of digital payment platforms, while social media, streaming services and online marketplaces are lowering entry barriers for creators and entrepreneurs. Artificial intelligence alone is projected to add nearly $1.5 trillion to the continent's GDP by 2030, transforming how creative work is produced, distributed and consumed. Between 2016 and 2022, Netflix invested $175 million in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, reflecting its confidence in Africa's creative output. Demographic shifts are equally transformative, as the rapid expansion of Africa's middle class and consumer base is driving demand for locally produced creative goods. By 2060, the middle class is expected to comprise more than 40 percent of the continent's population. At the same time, Africa's youth population is projected to double by 2050, making it the only region in the world with a growing working-age population. In addition to expanding Africa's domestic markets, this demographic dividend is poised to transform the global cultural landscape, with African creators playing an increasingly influential role. African policymakers must harness this cultural momentum to advance economic, social and development goals. Notably, creative industries tend to employ a higher proportion of young people than other parts of the economy. With an estimated 11 million young Africans expected to enter the workforce annually through 2030, targeted investment in these industries could be a highly effective strategy for addressing the continent's youth unemployment problem. In sectors like fashion, about 90 percent of micro, small and medium-size enterprises operate informally. Formalizing these businesses could boost productivity, broaden access to finance and foster long-term growth. A more structured creative economy could also advance gender equality, especially in countries like Ethiopia, where women comprise roughly 85 percent to 90 percent of the apparel workforce. African governments should adopt business-friendly policies tailored to the unique needs of African entrepreneurs and creators. Landry Signe To be sure, significant obstacles must be overcome to realize the sector's full potential. Africa currently accounts for just 1.5 percent of the global creative economy and 5 percent of the world's cultural and creative industry jobs, and the sector faces persistent funding gaps, chronic underinvestment and weak regulatory frameworks. Many African governments allocate less than 1 percent of their national budgets to creative industries. Intellectual property protections remain a key vulnerability as well, with UNESCO estimating that 50 percent to 75 percent of African film and audiovisual revenues are lost to piracy. To tackle this challenge, governments must bolster antipiracy laws and improve enforcement mechanisms. The African Union's Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries is a step in the right direction, but its success will depend on coordinated national implementation, the development of clear intellectual property guidelines and more robust institutional capacity. Alongside intellectual property reform, African governments should adopt business-friendly policies tailored to the unique needs of African entrepreneurs and creators. Given the high levels of informality across the sector, these frameworks must be flexible and inclusive. A prime example is Morocco's rebate system, which attracted international productions and helped the country's film industry achieve record profits in 2023. Access to funding is essential. The financial measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to aid the arts sector provide a useful model for how direct public investment can support creative industries. Strategic investment in digital infrastructure is also critical, especially for creative industries like fashion e-commerce. National governments should also collaborate with regional and international funders. Encouragingly, the African Export-Import Bank announced last year that it would double its investment — to $2 billion over the next three years — in the Creative Africa Nexus initiative, which connects creative professionals and investors from across the continent. More broadly, African governments must develop forward-looking policies that accelerate the growth of creative industries. By tapping into the talent, innovation and entrepreneurial drive of Africa's youth, the continent has the potential to position its creative economy as a global powerhouse, driving GDP growth, expanding cultural influence and shaping a future defined by African-led prosperity.
Arab News
16-05-2025
- Arab News
UK court orders singer Chris Brown held in custody over 2023 nightclub fight in London
LONDON: Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown was ordered held in custody after appearing Friday in a British courtroom to face a charge that he seriously beat a music producer in a London nightclub in 2023. Brown, 36, was charged in Brown in Manchester Magistrates' Court with one count of causing grievous bodily harm. He was arrested at a Manchester hotel early Thursday morning and held in custody until the hearing. His case was transferred to Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will appear on June 13. Brown arrived at the dock flanked by court officers. His hair was bleached blonde and he wore sweatpants and a black T-shirt. Brown confirmed his name and birth date and said his address was the local Lowry Hotel where he was arrested. The charges relate to an incident at a London nightclub in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in February 2023 when Brown was on tour in the U.K. Brown's representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Brown, often called by his nickname Breezy, burst onto the music scene as a teen in 2005 and has become a major hitmaker over the years with notable songs such as 'Run It,' 'Kiss Kiss' and 'Without You.' He won his first Grammy for best R&B album in 2011 for 'F.A.M.E.' then earned his second gold trophy in the same category for '11:11 (Deluxe)' earlier this year. The singer is due to launch an international tour next month with artists Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller, opening with a European leg before starting North America shows in July.
