Will Smith recently opened up about his strange connection to two music legends—The Notorious B.I.G. and Prince—during an interview on the Broken Record podcast. The actor and rapper revealed that he spoke to both of them just hours before they passed away, which left a lasting impact on him.
Biggie Smalls, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in March 1997 at just 24 years old. Prince, on the other hand, passed away in 2016 at the age of 57 due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl.
“I don’t even want to say this out loud ’cause it feels like a terrible jinx,” Smith said during the interview. “I met Biggie four hours before he got killed, and I talked to Prince eight hours before he died.”
Smith shared that his conversation with Prince was about a potential business venture. Prince had the idea of starting an entertainment company with Smith and Jay-Z, and he had already spoken to Jay-Z about it. “We talked that night, and in the morning, he was gone,” Smith recalled.
As for his final moments with Biggie, Smith admitted that their conversation was mostly about rap, but the rapper’s sudden death deeply affected him. “That one hurt me. It scared me, too,” he said.
Reflecting on these eerie coincidences, Smith even joked that talking to him might be bad luck. “I don’t know what that says about me. Don’t call me!” he laughed.
Beyond these personal experiences, Smith has been busy getting back into music. He made a return last year with his single Work of Art, featuring his son Jaden and Russ, followed by Tantrum with Joyner Lucas. His upcoming album, Dance in Your Darkest Days, is still awaiting a release date, but it will be his first full project since 2005’s Lost and Found.
Smith and Jay-Z have also worked together on other projects. In 2020, their production companies—Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation—collaborated to bring the story of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Mobley to television. The series was announced on the 65th anniversary of Till’s death and highlighted the impact his tragic murder had on the Civil Rights Movement.
Additionally, in 2021, Smith and Jay-Z invested in Landis Technologies, a company focused on helping renters become homeowners. Their investment helped the startup raise over $165 million to buy homes and rent them to families until they could afford a mortgage.
“Financial inclusion is really important to us,” said Landis co-founder Cyril Berdugo. “We’re proud to be part of a company that helps create wealth for low-income Americans.”
From music and movies to business ventures, Will Smith continues to make an impact in many ways. Despite his unusual connections to Biggie and Prince’s final moments, he remains focused on creating opportunities and making a difference in the world.
