That same year Smith landed the title role in the TV comedy 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' which lasted for six seasons. The show led to roles in movies such as Six Degrees of Separation, Bad Boys, Independence Day and Men in Black.

Now performing under his own name, Smith returned to music with two cuts on the 1997 Men in Black soundtrack. A solo rap album, Big Willie Style, was released on Columbia in late 1997 to great reviews. The album spent 72 weeks on the Billboard Top 40 album charts.

In 1999 Smith appeared in the box office disappointment Wild Wild West. The film's title track, however, was a summer hit for Smith.

In late 1999, Smith ushered in the 21st century with Willennium, featuring guest appearances by K-Ci, Lil' Kim, Biz Markie, Slick Rick and Tatyana Ali.