Just the Two of Us (Will Smith song)

"Just the Two of Us" is a song by American rapper Will Smith. It was released as the fourth single from his debut solo studio album, Big Willie Style (1997). The song was inspired by Bill Withers' and Grover Washington, Jr.'s love song of the same title; Smith's version samples and incorporates lyrics from the original. Instead of love between a couple, "Just the Two of Us" focuses on the relationship between a father and son. The song features Fuzzy and Sauce from the R&B group Somethin' for the People with Fuzzy providing the chorus and ad-libs, while Sauce is a credited as a producer on the track.

"Just the Two of Us"
Single by Will Smith
from the album Big Willie Style
ReleasedJuly 20, 1998
FormatCD single
Recorded1997
GenreHip hop, R&B
Length5:15 (album version)
4:19 (radio edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Will Smith, Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
Producer(s)Sauce
Will Smith singles chronology
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It"
(1998)		 "Just the Two of Us"
(1998)		 "Miami"
(1998)

The song reached number 20 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as number six on the Hot 100 Airplay. It was also a Top 5 hit in the UK, reaching number two. "Just the Two of Us" was one of Smith's biggest solo hits. Smith originally wrote a children's book with the same title and lyrics. For his album, he performed it in rap form. Instrumentation was provided by "Sauce" from the R&B group Somethin' for the People. The song was parodied by Eminem in his infamous track "'97 Bonnie & Clyde"[1] and by Dr. Evil in the 1999 film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It was also sampled in "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson.

The accompanying music video features Smith playing with his son, Trey, as well as numerous clips of several other famous men with their children.

Music video

The music video, directed by Bob Giraldi, begins with Smith playing with his son, Trey. Before the song starts, Trey says, "Now, dad, this is a very sensitive subject." The remainder of the video features clips of fathers with their children, including Smith playing with Trey, and other celebrity fathers, including Babyface, Montell Jordan, James Lassiter, Keenen Wayans, Brian McKnight, Magic Johnson, and Muhammad Ali (whom Smith later played in a 2001 biopic). The video also features Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith pregnant with the couple's first child Jaden, and also features Will's father, younger brother, and two sisters.

Track listings
  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit)
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Rodney Jerkins Remix) featuring Brian Mcknight
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (Spanish version) featuring DLG
  4. "Just the Two of Us" (Korean version) featuring Turbo
  5. "Just the Two of Us" (instrumental)

Charts and certifications

References
  1. https://www.indieshuffle.com/eminem-97-bonnie-clyde/
  2. "Australian-charts.com – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.5. – 28.5. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 22, 1998. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Just the Two of Us". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. "Charts.nz – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Top 40 Singles.
  12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  13. "Swedishcharts.com – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Singles Top 100.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  15. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  16. "Will Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. "Will Smith Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  18. "Will Smith Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  19. "Will Smith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  20. "Will Smith Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1998". ARIA. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  22. "RPM's Top 100 Hits of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 68 no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  24. "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  25. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  26. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 16, 1999. p. 7.
  27. "New Zealand single certifications – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  28. "British single certifications – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 20, 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Just the Two of Us in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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