send news tips to the editor; lbrown15@broncos.uncfsu.edu | www.fsuvoice.com, | November 17, 2010 | ThE VOICE, For Students, By Students . 7
By Tatianna Mosley
Pbice Contributer
We are all familiar with the new
hit single, “Whip My Hair” and of
course the 10-year-old Diva who
sings it, Willow Smith. Her out
rageous style that seems to be a
mixture of a cute ten-year-old and
a full-fledge punk rocker has pro
pelled her popularity forward in
the world of pop music and in the
hearts of millions around the world.
When I think of the word ex
ploited, I don’t think our little pop
princess fits the bill.
Obviously at the tender age of
ten she does not control her own
career, but from the fam
ily she comes from and the
foundation from which she
was raised, can we really say
that this young lady is being
exploited?
If we went back in time and
looked at of Willow’s accomplish
ments that have led to her recent
fame as a pop songstress, as well as
the family and moral grounds fi-om
which she was brought up on then
we could truly see that this talented
young lady is doing nothing short of
what her parents have done which
is make a name for herself in movie
and music industry.
Willow made her first appearance
as an actress at age 7 in the 2007
film “I Am Legend,” alongside her
father, Will Smith. She continued
over the next three years with mov
ie roles in “Kit Kittredge: an Ameri
can Girl," “Madagascar: Escape 2
Africa,'” and “Merry Madagascar.”
After her time in the world of
cinema, she turned her attention to
ward her music career releasing her
hit single, “Whip My Hair” which
has been climbing the charts since
its debut in September.
In an industry where artists have
gone as swiftly as they came, it is
not exactly uncommon for a new
artist (especially the yoimger ones)
to be used as a quick way of getting
money, but not our dear Willow.
She has been building her career
since her 2007 acting debut. She
has already begun forming her re
sume in the world of acting and
now has ventured into the realm of
music.
And with a family familiar to
both industries. Willow is not do
ing this on her own. Her mom,
Jada Pinkett Smith, has been in
movies since the mid ‘90s, and also
has a heavy metal rock band called
“Wicked Wisdom” We cannot leave
out Will who has had a stellar sing
ing and acting career since the mid
90’s as well. It has been reported
that both parents are extremely pro
tective of their children and stress
the values that a family unit
should have as well as the
I^Q importance of community ser
vice. It just doesn’t seem like
a plausible argument that two
parents who have successful
careers and care about their family
would just hand over theirlO-year
old daughter to the sharks of the
music industry.
Most exploited child seem to be
those with troubled pasts and seek
the world of fame and stardom only
to find security within the business
instead of themselves. They are the
vulnerable sheep who can be mold
ed into whatever “sells” and be
cause security is unfamiliar to them,
their managers can manipulate and
use them until they have found the
next willing.
Willow has what many young
stars do not - a resume filled with
experience from previous projects
and refuge in a family that knows
the business. To be a ground-break
ing artist these days you have to
push the envelope and Willow is
doing just that. She has all the sup
port she needs to remain stable and
sound in a business as dirty as the
music industry. Even though many
have fallen before her, our dear Wil
low is not and will not be a victim
of exploitation. Her security blan
ket is far too thick to let someone in
who will take advantage of her.
Willow
Exploited?
YES
Courtesy photo
Will(NO)
or
Will(YES)!
By Junious Smith III
Voice Contributer
With her single climbing the Billboard charts
and a deal with a premier record company, 10-year-
old Roc Nation singer Willow Smith is on the rise
to be the newest pop sensation. Her song “Whip
My Hair ” has her receiving widespread acknowl
edgment fi-om many different age demographics.
From elementary schools across the nation to the
colleges and clubs, people are bouncing around to
her song, which is exactly what her record company
was looking for.
Willow Smith is being exploited, without a doubt.
With child stars like Miley Cyrus, Miranda Cos
grove, and Keke Pahner growing up.
Willow seems in line to be the next
child idol. With parents Will and
Jada Pinkett Smith dominating the
entertainment industry and brother
Jaden making strides in his acting ca
reer, it’s clear that the thought process was to make
Willow a celebrity as well.
About two months prior to “Whip My Hair”
dropping, Jada Pinkett Smith said on the late night
show Lopez Tonight that her daughter would have
an album coming out shortly. Without any previous
song releases, it seems as though the strong family
connections got Willow the opportunity to be the
new face of the today’s youth.
The song itself seems as if was meant for some
one older.
My first reaction to the song was “Dang, Rihanna
is doing her thing on this track.” The effects done to
Willow’s voice. Autotune being the main building
block, makes her sound like an adult R&B singer.
Most people probably didn’t know this was a 10-
year old singing until the video was released.
Now, if Willow actually wrote the lyrics (which
Roc Nation claims she did), it is impressive; how
ever, what does someone that young knovv about
haters?
“Hop up out the bed turn my swag on
Pay no attention to them haters cuz we whip
em off and we ain’t doing nothing wrong
so don’t tell me nothing, i’m just tryna have fun
so keep the party jumping”
The song may rank with Kris Kross’ “Jump
Jump” and Lil’ Bow Wow’s “Bounce With Me” in
child music history; however, it doesn’t take away
fi-om the fact that Willow Smith is being exploited
and the only party jumping is for the record com
pany.
Lyrics fi-om “Whip my hair”
(Chorus)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip
it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it
real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
Hop up out the bed turn my swag on
Pay no attention to them haters cuz we
whip em off
and we ain’t doing nothing wrong
so don’t tell me nothing, i’m just tryna
have fun
so keep the party jumping
so whats up (yea)
And I’ll be doing what to do
we turn our back
and whip our hair and just shake them off
shake them off, shake them off,shake
them off
Don’t let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I’ll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i’m down and i feel like giving up i
think again
(Chorus)
I’ma get more shine than a little bit,
Soon as i hit the stage applause im hear
ing it
whether its black stars black hearts im
feeling it
but can’t none of them whip it like i do
I, i gets it in mmmm yea i go hard
when they see me pull up i whip it real
hard
i whip it real hard,real hard,i whip it real
hard
Don’t let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I’ll be fine
Keep fitting until i get there
When i’m down and i feel like giving up i
think again
(Chorus)
All my Ladies if you feel me
do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)
Don’t matter if its long, short (long,short)
do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)