Will Smith

On his first solo LP since 2002's Born to Reign, the Fresh Prince returns with another collection of catchy, PG-rated hip-hop. He attempts to show a more rugged side on several tracks (the rock-tinged "Mr. Niceguy" and pseudo-crunk "Party Starter"), and addresses 9/11 on "Tell Me Why." Jazzy Jeff and Kanye West produce; guests include Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg.

Now that reality-show kids with less personality than most accountants are hitting the
charts, you want to root for a good-natured celebrity like Will Smith to cook up some
stupid-fun pop. On Lost and Found, he's got plenty of up-to-date beats from Timbaland and
others, a Snoop cameo and lots of self-deprecating humor. Strangely, what he doesn't have
is a commanding presence: His nice-guy-with-a-retrograde-flow shtick is fast ru... More >

Raps better than Rodney Dangerfield (even when he was alive), and funnier to boot ("If You Can't Dance [Slide]," "Ms. Holy Roller"). (Grade - **)