Don't Sleep On: Willow Smith

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What’s good ladies and gents? Welcome to the first installment of Don’t Sleep On; a recurring series where we tell you to two-step away from the hypebeasts screaming about what’s cool and what’s not, and ask you to hear us out.

All too often, great talent and potential gets swept into the trash and we flock towards what we’re told fits the status-quo. Fortunately for us, the world is not an infamous track from the High School Music soundtrack, therefore, we do not need to stick to anyone’s status-quo. That being said, here’s why you shouldn't sleep on my girl Willow Smith. While her brother Jaden gets most of the attention for his equally measured talents, escapades with Biebs & the Jenner's, and his extraterrestrial tweets, I find it very hard to believe that Willow deserves to be slept on by any degree. She is more than the fleeting memory of Whip My Hair and is shaping up to be something special. Allow me to break it down fam:

Listen to her: A young Badu?

Her vocals are haunting, her message is deep and insightful, and her talents, like her EP, are inter-dimensional. At her age, I’m almost positive I was playing angst filled pop-rock songs on my guitar and my greatest concern was whether or not my parents would cop me a new pair of graphic Chucks. Listening to her lyrics, it is beyond clear that her understanding of life is much greater than that of any other 14 year old you've ever come across – one of the main reasons she should not be slept on. 

Learn from her: Stay woke & be real

artwork for Willow's EP

You see that small emblem resembling a parental advisory warning? Well, it actually reads "Indigo Advisory: Conscious Content", just in case you guys were worried that she couldn't change the game with a simple logo. As an indigo, Willow spreads a message of creativity, individuality, and the beauty of knowledge and consciousness. She is who she is and lives to be as free and unique as she feels, not buying into what is sold to us in mainstream media. As a young black female, it can be hard to be viewed as a boundless creative mind with the whole world trying to box you into the stereotypical lines, but Willow effortlessly draws her own. I am most definitely here for more #CarefreeBlackGirls like precious Willow.

Look at her: Literally stunning
 

image via Billboard

Lbh, when your dad is The Fresh Prince and your mom is Stony from Set It Off, you're damn near guaranteed to look like a princess. Take a long, hard look at those results. Clearly, some people can avoid their awkward years all together. Let us live, Willow.

The media may down-play this conscious teenager, but I've taken up a part-time job of gassing her talent 24/7. Sooner or later, Drake will be sampling her vocals in background of one of his latest sad-boy anthems and you'll all realize her greatness. Just knowing that her (and Jaden) aren't wasting their creativity, rather producing gems really brings a special kind of joy to my heart. We here at #119 are excited & anxious to see Willow fully grow into the enlightened musician we know she is capable of being, and we'll be here to keep you posted when she drops her latest and greatest.