Will Smith, K-Ci & Jojo And Master P Among Winners At American Music Awards

Jet, Feb 1, 1999

Will Smith, the rapper who became a motion picture superstar, was the big winner at the 26th annual American Music Awards (AMA), taking home three of the statuettes.

Smith won favorite pop/rock album for Big Willie Style. He also won in the categories of Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album, both in the R&B category.

The former star of the hit sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and such movies as Men in Black, Independence Day and Enemy of the State, told reporters backstage at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium that he wasn't sure the album had much of a chance when it was released. "It moved from Number 98 (on the Billboard charts) to 104. So, I was concerned. Then Jerry Seinfeld started saying `get jiggy with it.' And that sort of took it off." He told the crowd of more than 5,000 when he won his first award: "I've been away a while. I'm just glad people are accepting me again making the music."

He received a large ovation from reporters when he recalled for them how his initial rap lyrics had four-letter words in them until his grandmother happened to see them. She told him that intelligent people don't need such language to get their point across. So, he's kept them out of his music.

Award-winners K-Ci and JoJo brought their mother, Anita Hailey, backstage with them and pointed out that she wrote one of the songs on their new CD. They also pointed out that Jodeci is still together "and there are no problems."

Other AMA winners included Master P (Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist), Lauryn Hill (Favorite New Artist) and Janet Jackson (Favorite R&B Female Artist).

Also backstage, singer Monica said she's planning to play the female lead in the re-make of the hit 1970s film, Love Story. Until they find the right leading man, she said she'll keep on singing and modeling.

Isaac Hayes told reporters that his resurgence in popularity was very unexpected. "You work all your life, struggle for artistic excellence and some late-night whacked-out adult cartoon (`South Park') happens, and you're hotter than you've ever been. When my agent called me about doing a voice-over, I thought it was Disney. I almost passed, but then I figured if they were crazy enough to do it, then I could, too."

Master P said he really hopes the success he's had in recording will focus more attention on the music of southern cities like New Orleans. Only half-jokingly, he said he might still go out for the NBA.

Tatyana Ali, who's had success as a recording artist since leaving "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and currently is a student at Harvard University, said the transformation has been fun and smooth. "I'm about to go on tour now," she said. She's taking a semester off from Harvard for the tour. She said the academic work at the prestigious university is challenging. "But, I still party hard."

Presenters D.L. Hughley and Elise Neal of the hit ABC sitcom "The Hughleys," told reporters that much of the early controversy about their show stemmed from misinformation. "People didn't know what to expect," he said.

The program featured performances by Whitney Houston, who teamed up with Babyface and Jean Wyclef. Also, legendary group Blondie teaming up with Coolio and Wu-Tang Clan.