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Common Sense Note

"I never write verses with curses," brags Will Smith on LOST AND FOUND. He brags about a lot of other stuff too. You can listen to "Mr. Niceguy" with your kids and talk to them about the power of using words, as opposed to fists, to get a point across.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark

LOST AND FOUND is Will Smith's ninth CD, and the strongest in quite a while. With the sharp wit we remember from songs like "Parents Just Don't Understand," he takes on the perceived injustices of his personal world with an irresistible combination of a rapper's standard-issue self-importance and self-deprecating humor. The only problem is that Will Smith's world is very different from ours. Most of us don't have to deal with celebrity stalkers, for example ("Loretta"), harder-core rappers accusing us of being too "nice" or selling out ("Mr. Niceguy"), or a rock star's professional jealousy ("I Wish I Made That").

Still, there are universal themes and well-told stories on LOST AND FOUND, along with some all-star assists from the likes of Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Treezah, Robin Thicke, and Nicole Scherzinger. Mr. Smith has been honing his comic-rhyming timing, and seems to gleefully embrace this opportunity to settle a few scores. Beginning with the first cut, "Here He Comes" (a song that manages to musically reference both "Spiderman" and "West Side Story"), the listener is drawn into Will's World and treated to his thoughts about everything from religious fundamentalism ("Ms. Holy Roller") to 9/11, ("Tell Me Why"). Musical treats include lovely symphonic strings on the title song, and exquisite production -- and playing -- throughout.

Though Will Smith sometimes hits us over the head with his message on LOST AND FOUND, the message itself seems sincere, a look inside the heart and mind of a charming, witty pro who is also a genuinely nice guy.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Sexual innuendo is so mild and clever that it will go over most kids' heads.
Violence Will "uses his words" instead of his fists.
Language Nothing offensive.
Message
	Social Behavior The artist makes a point of being squeaky-clean.
	Commercialism The VW Jetta is inexplicably mentioned more than once.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Nothing obvious.

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