Will Smith’s journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to Hollywood stardom has come full circle, with the city honoring him in the most remarkable way—by renaming a section of 59th Street, near his old high school, Will Smith Way.
The ceremony, attended by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and other city leaders, was a moment of profound gratitude and reflection.
Will Smith, the Oscar-winning actor and Grammy-winning musician, stood before his hometown, visibly moved, and declared, “Philly, I love you. I am yours. You are mine.”
Smith credited his upbringing for shaping him into the man he is today, crediting his parents for instilling in him the values of hard work and perseverance.
“Nobody gets an easy ride,” he said. “That’s what the streets of Philadelphia taught me—there’s nothing wrong with a hard day’s work.”
From ‘Prince Charming’ to ‘The Fresh Prince’
Among the crowd was a former teacher who once affectionately called him “Prince Charming,” a nickname that would later inspire his iconic persona, The Fresh Prince.
Reflecting on his high school days, Smith shared how the nickname came to life: “The name ‘The Fresh Prince’ was coined in that building. I added ‘fresh’ because it was hip-hop slang.”
Will Smith’s career skyrocketed from those early days. From his breakthrough role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to a string of Grammy wins for hits like “Summertime,”
“Men In Black,” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” Smith has cemented himself as an entertainment icon. After two decades away from music, he’s gearing up to release his much-anticipated fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, this Friday.
As West Philadelphia immortalizes him with a street bearing his name, Will Smith stands as a living testament to the power of perseverance, dreams, and the undeniable bond between a man and his roots.
