Willow Smith

Artist Biography by Neil Z. Yeung ArdipithecusThe daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Willow Smith expanded her scope from childhood actor to genre-spanning recording artist within a decade. As a singer/songwriter, she debuted with the viral 2010 hit pop single "Whip My Hair" before maturing her sound to include alt-R&B textures with her full-length debut, Ardipithecus, which she also produced. By the time her 2017 sophomore album arrived, her sound had evolved to include pastoral acoustic textures on her organic The 1st. Along the way, she was a frequent collaborator with brother Jaden, as well as Tyler Cole (as the duo the Anxiety) and Jahnavi Harrison (for 2020's R I S E). In addition to film and music, she is also a fashion figure, social rights advocate, and television personality, starring alongside her mother and grandmother on the family talk show Red Table Talk. Like older brothers Jaden and Trey, Willow got her start in the entertainment industry as an actor. She first appeared alongside her father in I Am Legend (2007), which led to roles in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008) and Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa (2008), as well as a couple appearances on the television program True Jackson, VP (as a younger version of star Keke Palmer). In 2010, Jay-Z's Roc Nation label signed Smith as a vocalist. Her first single, the bouncy "Whip My Hair," was released later that year and was in the Top 20 of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart by the end of October. WillowSmith's debut album, Ardipithecus, followed shortly thereafter. Exploring different sounds and textures, the record was a stark departure from "Whip My Hair," unveiling a more alternative side to the songwriter -- somewhere between Lorde and Janelle Monae -- who also produced ten of the album's 11 tracks. Her sophomore effort, The 1st, marked another shift in tone for Smith. Issued in 2017, the album focused on an organic, singer/songwriter style highlighted on tracks like "Boy" and "A Reason." Her eclectic third LP, Willow, appeared in July 2019 and was co-produced by Tyler Cole. Plaintive like The 1st, but with more production, the short set had a dreamy energy similar to Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star and featured brother Jaden on "U Know." Her collaborative work with Cole was extended when the pair formed the Anxiety, recording a self-titled album that landed in early 2020. At the end of that year, Smith teamed with British musician Jahnavi Harrison for the spiritually focused EP R I S E.