Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Will Smith signed on to do The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air because he was broke and in trouble with the IRS.
The story begins with Smith finding fame after he and DJ Jazzy Jeff released their breakout hit “Parents Just Don’t Understand” in the late 1980s.
Smith says he blew through all of his money, didn’t pay his taxes and then had a flop when the rap duo released their second album.
In trouble and hopeless, his then-girlfriend suggested Smith just hang around Paramount near the The Arsenio Hall Show studio in hopes of meeting someone influential.
It worked.
For the full story, visit Billboard.com/News.
