Miami (Will Smith song)

"Miami"
Single by Will Smith
from the album Big Willie Style
B-side
ReleasedNovember 23, 1998 (1998-11-23)
GenreR&B[1]
Length3:18
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
Producers
Will Smith singles chronology
"Just the Two of Us"
(1998) 		"Miami"
(1998) 		"Wild Wild West"
(1999)
Music video
"Miami" on YouTube

"Miami" is a song by American rapper and actor Will Smith from his debut solo album, Big Willie Style (1997). It samples the Whispers's 1979 single "And the Beat Goes On". Released as a single on November 23, 1998, the song charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.

"Miami" won the Best Male Video award at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. The video, which incorporates the first two verses and refrains of the selection's "radio edit" followed by the third verse and refrain of its "Miami Mix", features an early on-screen appearance of Smith's future Hitch co-star, Eva Mendes.

Background

"Miami" was produced by production duo Poke and Tone, consisting of Samuel Barnes and Jean-Claude Olivier, along with L.E.S. for Will Smith's solo debut, Big Willie Style (1997).[2] The track was developed following their work on "Men in Black," Smith's single from the soundtrack to the 1997 film of the same name, during which the producers established a close professional relationship with him that carried over into his solo project. Big Willie Style (1997).[2] "Miami" is largly build upon a sample from the Whispers's 1979 single "And the Beat Goes On" and functions as a tribute to the city of the same name.

For the recording of "Miami," producers Barnes and Olivier sought a Spanish-speaking vocalist to deliver the phrase "Bienvenidos a Miami" in the song's introduction.[2] They recruited the singer spontaneously while at the Hit Factory studio, approaching passersby outside the studio to find someone for the recording.[2] While many of the women they asked were skeptical, and some initially did not believe that Smith was present, they ultimately found a vocalist who agreed to participate and contributed the line to the track.[2]

Critical reception

Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "Smith should have no problem maintaining the momentum of his current album, "Big Willie Style", with this third single, following the ubiquitous "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Just The Two Of Us". On "Miami", he talks us up with an ode to the heat, style, and hip factor of that city. This time around, Smith employs the instrumental hook of the Whispers' 1979 single "And The Beat Goes On", which adds a classic, string-filled disco backdrop as festive as the city itself. With Smith's record on the airwaves and at the box office, as well as his appeal with younger demographics, this really is a no-brainer, now isn't it?"[3]

Music video

In the music video for the song, Smith and members of his band are freezing in Philadelphia, where it is −30 °F (−34 °C), causing a bandmate to curse Jack Frost. They hop on a plane to Miami, and are shown going around Miami in their car and various scenes morph into one another. Actress Eva Mendes appears driving a car next to Smith and his bandmates. The video ends with Will Smith and his band performing a concert. The video features samples from Gloria Estefan's hits "Conga" and "You'll Be Mine (Party Time)".

Track listings

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[47] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[48] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[49] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[50]
digital sales since 2009 		Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Platinum 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[52] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[53]
digital sales since 2008 		2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 6, 1998 Urban radio Columbia [54]
October 13, 1998
[55]
United Kingdom November 23, 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [56]

References

  1. ^ Farley, Keith. Various Artists - Jock Jams, Vol. 5 (1999) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ahmed, Insanul (September 4, 2012). "Trackmasters Tell All: The Stories Behind Their Classic Records (Part 2)". Complex. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (October 3, 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 24. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Miami (UK CD1 liner notes). Columbia Records. 1998. 666678 2.
  5. ^ Miami (UK CD2 liner notes). Columbia Records. 1998. 666678 5.
  6. ^ Miami (UK cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 1998. 666678 4.
  7. ^ Miami (European CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1998. COL 666488 1.
  8. ^ Miami (Australian CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1998. 666488 2.
  9. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  10. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  11. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
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  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 7472". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 7465". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 7. February 13, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "Will Smith: Miami" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  17. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  18. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  19. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 13. March 27, 1999. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  20. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.11–20.11. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 13, 1998. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Miami". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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  29. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  30. ^ "Search results for "Will Smith" | Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  31. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 29/11/1998 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  32. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  33. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  34. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  35. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  36. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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  38. ^ "Rapports Annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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  47. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  48. ^ "Danish single certifications – Will Smith – Miami". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  49. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Will Smith; 'Miami')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  50. ^ "Italian single certifications – Will Smith – Miami" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  51. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Will Smith – Miami". Radioscope. Retrieved February 2, 2026. Type Miami in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
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  53. ^ "British single certifications – Will Smith – Miami". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2024. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Miami Will Smith in the "Search:" field.
  54. ^ "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1268. October 2, 1998. p. 56.
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