West Philadelphia has immortalized Will Smith with a new mural.
The Fresh Prince owes a lot to his hometown. Starting out as a rapper in the 1980s to becoming one of Hollywood's most bankable stars was not easy, but the values he learned in Philly instilled toughness in him.
"Growing up my mother, grandmother and grandfather demanded no less from me than to represent the family everytime I stepped out in a way that was helpful to others," Smith said in a recent YouTube video.
Inspired by Smith's illustrious career as a movie star, British muralist Richard Wilson got to work and contacted Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Global Leadership Academy Charter School to secure the tallest wall he could find, according to Philly Voice.
With the stroke of his brush, the muralist captured Smith's likeness. The Philly native dressed in a blazer, white collar shirt and Jordans was a twist on Kehinde Wiley's presidential portrait of Barack Obama.
Wilson's mural left many Philly residents speechless for its pure dopeness. Carolyn Smith, his mother, loved it because she knew how much the city meant to her son.
"It's perfect. There's nothing you left off," she said.
She added: "In addition to being born and raised here, the city gave him his start. He's worked hard for the city, and the city has worked hard for him."
Smith was overjoyed and brought to tears to see his mother's reaction.
"To see my mother's face, when she saw the mural was profoundly moving for me," he said.
He always looked up to Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving because of the giant mural dedicated to him. Now, others will look up to Smith in the same way.
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