S. Samuel
Roc Nation's Willow Smith recording contract has reportedly been exposed and shows the 10 year-old is actually an employee of her blockbuster Hollywood father, Will Smith.
Based on alleged documents, Will is technically the singer’s boss.
Willow Smith knows her place — she’s a daughter/employee of Will Smith. TMZ has obtained documents filed by Roc Nation, Willow’s record label owned by Jay-Z. According to the docs, Roc Nation entered into a recording agreement with Spooky Girl, Inc. “for exclusive recording and entertainment services of Willow Smith.” Spooky Girl is Willow’s company — sort of. You see, the Prez of Spooky Girl is Will, and Willow is listed as an “employee.” And it gets more interesting, because Jada Pinkett Smith is listed as Willow’s guardian. Will can’t list himself as a parent or guardian because it conflicts with his duties as president of Spooky Girl. So legally speaking, Jada protects Willow from Will! (TMZ)
Last October, Willow reflected on being an artist on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation roster.
“It felt like all the hard work paid off, mostly that,” Willow told us. “Like all the hard work that I’ve done, like recording ‘Whip My Hair’ — it’s paid off.” She recalled making introductions: “We went to this building, I don’t remember what it was, but we had a meeting and I got to hang out with him and meet him, and it was fun.” (MTV)
In September, Jay-Z confirmed speculation of Willow signing to his Roc Nation management company/label.
“First off, I heard the [‘Whip My Hair’] record first, before I knew that it was recorded by a nine year-old,” Jay said in an interview with radio host Ryan Seacrest. “I was like, ‘Man, that record is a smash.’ — I went to Japan to do some stuff and they were out there and I met Willow and she walked in and the first thing she said was, ‘I’m really nervous,’ and I thought that maturity, explaining exactly how she was feeling as she was walking in the room, I knew right there she was a star. I believe in super stars and I believe in big records on super stars…Yes, [I signed her and we plan on helping her] facilitate all her ideas. As you’re going to learn today, if you sit with her for a half hour, you’ll see, she’s just a wealth of information and ideas…She’s a child, she has child innocence but she has a refreshing clear vision of what she wants to be…And I imagine that’s how Mike [Jackson] was as a kid.” (Rap Radar)
Southern rapper Rick Ross recently shared his admiration toward Willow.
“It’s incredible, I was like wow, she’s can’t be nine,” Ross said with a smile. “It can’t be true. But you know, every so often, you find a true ball of talent and that’s what that is. She’s a young beautiful superstar, it’s just written all over her face and just to hear the record, it’s crazy.” (Rap-Up TV)
Listen to Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” below:
