Image credit: Walt Disney

By now, you’ve seen a blue Will Smith playing his role as the genie on the forthcoming live-action remake of Aladdin; now, you’ll get to hear more of his musical contributions. As part of the official soundtrack for the film, he and Father of Asahd DJ Khaled came together to remake the classic song “Friend Like Me” (originally performed by the late great Robin Williams in the 1992 original).

Also added is the full stream of the Aladdin soundtrack for your listening (and nostalgic) pleasure.

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The post Will Smith & DJ Khaled Recreate the ‘Aladdin’ Classic “Friend Like Me” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

By: Ryan Rondeno

Private chef to the stars, Ryan Rondeno, is a true master of his trade and is ready to shake up the restaurant industry. His elegant dishes, bold flavor, and simple techniques, are a few reasons why he is one of the premiere rising American chefs.

Having trained with globally-renowned chefs Emeril Lagasse, Anton Schulte, Mathais Wolf, Sue Zemenick, and Gerard Maras, Rondeno learned how to find his edge as chef. His love for New Orleans cuisine and California infusion, caught the attention of heavy hitters such as Diddy, Will Smith, Common, Mercedes Benz and Lamborghini, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Even more impressively, this New Orleans native has appeared on The Jam TV Show, ATL & Co, Good Day Charlotte, and Good Day San Diego, sharing his cooking expertise. He also won Culinary Fight Club (LA, San Diego, & Chicago) 3 times and won third place in the national championship.

To impact the lives of many on a grander scale, Chef Rondeno has decided to make his lavish recipes available to people across the US.

Through offering trade secrets, training through simple technique, and revealing signature recipes for all ages, he is giving people the opportunity to to connect with him further.

As he continues to be a trailblazer in the cooking world, his culinary focus remains on providing his clientele with the finest grass-fed, organic meats and locally grown organic produce.

Click here to learn more about Chef Ryan Rondeno’s recipes, spice collection, and latest cooking endeavors.

The post Chef Ryan Rondeno: The Cooking Trailblazer appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

During his last night in Budapest, where he is filming his latest film Gemini Man, Will decided to shut down the viral craze by doing the impossible and climbing atop a bridge in the luxurious city.

“There is no way this is legal,” Smith said as he climbed the small metal stairs before entering a door and climbing to the top with his camera in hand.

“I’ma Keep It ?… I was TERRIFIED up there,” Will said in the video caption. “That’s why my dance moves is all STIFF! Haha.”

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A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith)

Will’s challenge not only received praises from fans, but Drake himself commented on the Fresh Prince’s video saying that the “video is done.”

Over the last year, Will Smith has garnered a lot of attention on social media for his vlogging ability and with his latest take on the “Do the Shiggy” challenge and recreation of his son Jaden’s video “Icon”, it’s evident that isn’t the last time that we will see Big Willie dropping the mic and making our day.

During a recent interview with TIDAL’s Rap Radar podcast, the icon opened up about his emergence as a social media star.

“Social media demands authenticity,” said Smith. “Social media pushes you more and more into having you reveal what’s true. ‘Cause if you don’t, TMZ is going to. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m actually enjoying the push. Nobody’s happy that doesn’t get to be themselves. I’m enjoying the social demand for authenticity.”

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The post [Watch] Will Smith Shuts Down the “In My Feelings” Challenge appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Roc Nation

Like father, like son (or in this case, you should reverse that). Currently, Jaden Smith is showing just how talented he is musically via last year’s release SYRE…now, his father — megastar Will Smith — is ready to rejoin his son on wax. To start (not counting a recent surprise freestyle and random track from some time ago), he jumps on a Reggaeton version (?) of Jaden’s hit single “Icon,” which also now features Nicky Jam. Naturally, Will throws in some Spanish bars for extra effect.

Check it all out — including a sort-of music video — below. Can we expect a “Jiggy” new album from the Fresh Prince?

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The post ICYMI: Will Smith Jumps on (Reggaeton) Remix of Jaden Smith’s “Icon” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Aww s***: Will Smith is back on the Rap scene in full force, as seen in his recent in-studio video (and he’s cursing on wax now, apparently):

Tt’s twenty years of swag, y’all just witnessed
Let me remind everybody who Will Smith is
Rappers make it rain, let they money hit ya
If I throw my money up, s***, I’d probably kill a stripper
The illest, realest, Big Will-est
Down with the man in charge of where Uncle Phil is
Everybody wanna do Will Smith numbers
I don’t know if your life got that many Summers
I got inspired, quickly I unretired, the Fresh Prince just re-wired
I’m slightly modified, but still…

Not only are his bars still, uh, ‘Big Willie Style’, it looks like “new music is on the way.” Stay tuned.

In related news, long-time sidekick DJ Jazzy Jeff dropped off a new album of his own titled M3, which is available now. You can also enjoy a FOMO visual from that project — “Skaters Paradise” featuring Rhymefest and Dayne Jordan — here.

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The post ICYMI: Will Smith is Back in the Booth [WATCH] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Westbrook

Seeing the return of Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff should have been amazing, but I’m not so sure with what’s been laid out in front of us. The two Hip-Hop behemoths have once again joined forces for the new single “Get Lit” (?), which delves into the Electronic genre (??) and even comes with a new Will Smith accent (???). It was also officially released on Friday The 13th, so there’s that.

If you dare, check out “Get Lit” below and — if you’re diggin’ it — pick up your copy via iTunes. Hopefully (and despite this song), there’s a lot more where this came from.

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The post Will Smith is Back with new EDM Single “Get Lit” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Royce The 5’9 checks in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio Overtime. Photo Credit: Shyrone Haskins

Man, I remember the first time I caught on to Royce da’ 5’9″

It was my junior year of high school and I wasn’t allowed to watch music videos on MTV or BET.

So, what’s a guy to do? I did it anyway!

My mom would tell me she was going to check the bottom of the cable box and see if it was hot when she came home from work. So, naturally, I found the cheat code. I ran the cold water in the kitched sink until it got extra cold, then I got a sponge and cooled the cable box. By the time my mom came home, the cable box was cooled and was left the way it was when everyone left for school and work that morning.

Why are these details important, you ask? This set the stage for the formative years of my hearing Royce da 5’9’s music.

Well, I clearly remember coming home from school and checking out the music video for Rock With Me.

That song, Royce’s, also featured Eminem. I’d been sold on Eminem since he appeared on the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and marched into the entrance of Radio City Music Hall with a ton of Eminem look-a-likes.

In turn, Eminem shook Carson Daly’s hand and left Fred Durst hanging while rapping to the hit, “The Real Slim Shady.”

Now that I’ve bored you, I say all of that to say that I thought Royce was talented in Rock With Me and the collaboration of he and Eminem meant the world to me back then.As talented a lyricist that Royce is, one would wonder who else he repects lyrically.

In a recent conversation on Scoop B Radio Overtime, Royce da’ 5’9 broke it down for me. “Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas were in terms of albums were the first albums that I was able to appreciate from a technical, lyrical, standpoint,” Royce da’ 5’9″ told me on Scoop B Radio Overtime.

Royce da” 5’9 Checks In With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson On Scoop B Radio

“I’ve always been influenced by Redman, Ras Kass, the Helter Skelter album was a big album in my household. D.O.C. is a criminally slept on emcee out of the west coast. I think had he not had that accident he shoots to top three easily, Big L.”

Big L??  Yup Big L, Harlem’s finest! He’s very underrated. Royce thinks so too. “Criminally underrated,” Royce da’ 5’9 said.

“I think Big L was better than Jay-Z at that time, just in my opinion. Let me know if y’all disagree because we can argue.”

Nope, we’re saying nothing. 

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