S. Samuel
Known for his relationships with Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, SOHH hit up rap veteran Skillz to get his take on former "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" actress Janet Hubert and the disses she has hurled at the Big Willie.
While he can understand Hubert, who played Aunt Vivian Banks, and her point of view, Skillz said he ultimately supports Smith.
“I didn’t know Will back then [during ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ days], I didn’t know him personally back then,” Skillz told SOHH. “I’ve heard stories from a couple people in the cast about how she was and I believe it was just that syndrome where she’s like, ‘I’m a classically trained Broadway actress and here I am on this show with this hip-hop kid.’ Some people just don’t get that. I call it the J.J. syndrome. You know how J.J. [Evans] was on ‘Good Times’ and you’ve got Esther Rolle, John Amos, they come from ‘Roots’ and classic Broadway acting and you’re on a show where people are just waiting for the skinny kid to say, ‘Dy-no-mite’? After a while, I can see them getting frustrated. And Will is my man, so anyone who has a problem with Will has a problem with me.” (SOHH)
In late December, Hubert opened up on her long-stemming issues with Smith.
15 years after the show went off the air … Janet Hubert tells TMZ, she’s still upset with the way she was fired from the show … and blames the whole thing on Smith himself. “There will never be a reunion … as I will never do anything with an a**hole like Will Smith,” Hubert said. She adds, “He is still an egomaniac and has not grown up. This constant reunion thing will never ever happen in my lifetime unless there is an apology, which he doesn’t know the word.” Hubert has said in the past she believes Smith is to blame for her departure in the middle of the show’s run — claiming he turned on her because she wouldn’t kiss his butt. (TMZ)
Prior to her remarks, Smith and other cast members were spotted together at a charity event.
Now this is a story all about how… Will Smith posed for a picture with his Fresh Prince co-stars, who played his family in the classic ’90s sitcom that launched his career. Although his on-screen mother Janet Hubert-Whitten was absent, Smith seemed excited to meet up with Tatyana Ali (Ashley Banks in the series), Karyn Parsons (Hilary Banks), Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton Banks) and James Avery (Philip Banks). (Metro)
For the time being, Skillz has reportedly been working with Smith’s daughter, Willow, on her upcoming Roc Nation debut album.
“We’re working on some stuff for Willow Smith’s album,” Skillz revealed in an interview. “I worked with her dad [Will Smith] on a few projects before so you know I have a relationship with him. It was just a natural progression like they’re doing music so, you know, that door’s always open. I’d be crazy not to try to walk through it, so we’re working on some stuff. Her Roc Nation debut will be out probably next year. I can write for anybody. It’s just stepping outside of yourself, looking at the market and realize on what’s missing and try to fill that void. We all throw darts, sometimes they stick, sometimes they don’t. But, you know, you keep going.” (BET)
Check out some footage of Skillz & DJ Jazzy Jeff below:
