NEW YORK (MTV News) – Will Smith has been dropped by Sony, allegedly because they believe he is “past his prime”.
Smith, 34, who has sold over 20 million records worldwide, was apparently given the boot after his recent greatest hits package sold a relatively crap 100,000 copies, a sign that big Will is, as an industry insider said: “not the force in hip-hop he once was.”
“It doesn’t matter how big a star is,” said the insider, “if they don’t sell records they get dropped, simple. Will has had a lot of success selling records but that time has passed. People aren’t interested in him as a musician any more.”
Will Smith originally found chart success as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, before going solo with hits like ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’ and ‘Men In Black’. His movie career continues unabated.
It is thought that Smith will now sign a new deal with the record label offshoot of Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks company.