How does Will Smith get away with it? He may be one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, but his musical talent has always been meagre in the extreme - and this new album is possibly the most threadbare he's made to date. Born To Reign is almost totally without redemption, a soulless collection of syrupy ballads and lightweight hip-hop, filled with such appalling lapses of taste as the presence of Smith's wife and baby son as guest vocalists. His street cred having long since departed with his old partner Jazzy Jeff, the Fresh Prince now makes the kind of rap records even Tipper Gore would find inoffensive - slick, clean and desperately anxious to please. This wouldn't be so bad in itself, except that Smith has now taken to posing as a down to earth homeboy, while simultaneously boasting about his friends ("Denzel and Russ Crowe") and his own talent ("I'm the greatest thing ever happened to rappin'"). Elsewhere, meanwhile, there are so many cynical references to his new film Men In Black II that you can't help wondering what the whole point of the album was in the first place. One thing, at least, is abundantly clear - as a musician, Smith makes a great, great actor.
