Will Smith left recording for a movie career in the early '90s, becoming a bonafide star with 1996's Independence Day. He followed that film with the sci-fi comedy Men In Black, and for its soundtrack, he decided to return to recording to help give the film a bit of a boost. It didn't need it -- it became one of the most successful films of 1997 -- but Smith's title track, as well as "Cruisin'," are evidence that his breezy charm is as evident in his rhymes as it is in his acting. The remainder of the record is just as good, featuring a wide array of funky, party-ready hip-hop from the likes of Snoop Doggy Dogg, A Tribe Called Quest, Trey Lorenz, 702, Buckshot LeFonque and Nas. There are a few clunkers scattered across the album, but it is one of the best pop/urban soundtracks of 1997. [Men in Black is also available in a release with added bonus tracks.] ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide
Men in Black (Bonus CD)
03/23/1999
All Music Guide Review
Credits
- Branford Marsalis
- Sax (Alto), Producer, Drum Programming
- Earl Martin
- Assistant Engineer
- Tony Maserati
- Mixing
- Mark McKenzie
- Orchestration
- Benny Medina
- Executive Producer
- Shawn Murphy
- Engineer, Mixing
- Axel Niehaus
- Mixing
- Bob Power
- Engineer
- Greg Powers
- Engineer
- Herb Powers
- Mastering
- James Poyser
- Piano, Keyboards, Producer
- Vicki Randle
- Percussion
- Tony Smalios
- ?, Mixing
- Patrick Smith
- Engineer
- Phil Tan
- Engineer, Mixing
- Richard Travali
- Mixing
- D'Wayne Wiggins
- Producer
- Kenyatta Kelo Williams
- Producer, Mixing
- Alex Lowe
- Assistant Engineer
- Benjamin Wright
- Arranger, Conductor
- Mark Endert
- Assistant Engineer
- Ken Ifill
- Engineer, Mixing
- Jay Lincoln
- Mixing
- The Roots
- Producer
- 3T
- Vocals (Background)
- Tichina Arnold
- Vocals (Background)
- Mike Simpson
- Assistant Engineer
- Ginuwine
- Arranger
- Erykah Badu
- Mixing
- Commissioner Gordon
- Mixing
- Ben Arrindell
- Second Engineer
- Rob "Wacko" Hunter
- Engineer, Mixing
- Charles McCrorey
- Second Engineer
- Poke
- Producer, Drum Programming
- Corey Rooney
- Keyboards, Producer, Drum Programming
- The Ummah
- Producer
- Black Thought
- Vocals
- Doug Erb
- Design
- Taryll Jackson
- Vocals
- Mookie
- Guitar, Mixing, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Producer, Arranger
- Ellen Segal
- Digital Editing, Editing
- James Lassiter
- Executive Producer
- Joey Swails
- Engineer
- ?uestlove
- Drums, Keyboards
- Reese Johnson
- Producer
- Ann Carli
- Executive Producer
- Beyoncé
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- LeToya Luckett
- Vocals (Background)
- Jerome Malcolm
- Producer
- Michael McCoy
- Assistant Engineer
- Troy Wimble
- Vocals
- LaTavia Roberson
- Vocals (Background)
- Toby Rodriguez
- Assistant Engineer
- Joe Smith
- Mixing
- Kelly Rowland
- Vocals (Background)
- Ian Shubert
- Engineer
- Deconzo Smith
- Producer
- Kenny Stallworth
- Assistant Engineer
- Ellis Taylor
- Vocals
- John Shrive
- Engineer
- Daniel Bloom
- Assistant Engineer
- Coko
- Vocals (Background)
- Emoja
- Vocals (Background)
- Honey B. Fly
- Vocals (Background)
- Mike Scott
- Engineer
- Tone
- Producer, Drum Programming
- Hub
- Synthesizer Bass
- Bobby Fernandez
- Mixing
- Trey Lorenz
- Vocals, Vocals (Background), Producer
- Kamal
- Keyboards
- Robert Hurst
- Bass (Acoustic)
- Jeff "Tain" Watts
- Drums
- Michael Alvord
- Engineer
- Steve Bartek
- Orchestration
- Craig Burbidge
- Mixing
- Mariah Carey
- Vocals, Producer
- Dana Jon Chappelle
- Engineer
- D'Angelo
- Keyboards, Vocals (Background)
- De La Soul
- Producer
- Jermaine Dupri
- Producer, Mixing
- Kevin Eubanks
- Slide Guitar
- Matt Finders
- Trombone
- Chuck Findley
- Trumpet
- Darryl Jones
- Bass (Electric)
- Charles Brackeen
- Engineer
- Roy Hargrove
- Trumpet
- Kenny Kirkland
- Piano, Keyboards










