Will Smith is one of the most influential figures in Hollywood, with a career spanning decades in both acting and music. 

From blockbuster hits like Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men in Black to his Oscar-winning performance in King Richard,

Smith has cemented his place as a household name. But beyond his success on screen, he has also left his mark on the music industry.

As one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, he helped shape hip-hop’s golden era, with tracks like Summertime earning chart-topping success.

Recently, during an appearance on the Broken Record podcast with Justin Richmond, Smith shared deeply personal stories about two late music legends:

The Notorious B.I.G. and Prince. His experiences with both artists left a lasting impact on him—one filled with regret and the other with a haunting sense of loss.

A Chilling Meeting with Biggie Smalls

Will Smith recalled the only time he ever met The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, in Los Angeles—an encounter that took place just four hours before the rapper was tragically killed.

The Philadelphia native, who considers Biggie one of the greatest rappers of all time, admitted that the experience shook him to his core.

“I don’t even want to say this out loud because it’s a terrible jinx. I met Biggie four hours before he got killed,” Smith shared during the podcast.

“The Biggie one made me cry because it was stupid and it was just centered on hip-hop, for rapping, and that one hurt me. It scared me, too.”

Biggie, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was killed on March 9, 1997, after attending the Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles. As he was returning home, a vehicle pulled up next to his car, and the driver opened fire.

The rapper was struck four times in the chest. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. His murderer was never identified, and his death remains one of the most infamous unsolved cases in hip-hop history.

For Smith, the tragedy of Biggie’s murder was more than just a loss for the music world—it was a stark reminder of the dangers that came with being a high-profile artist in hip-hop.

His Final Conversation with Prince

Will Smith also recounted another surreal moment involving a different music icon—Prince. The actor revealed that he had spoken to the Purple Rain singer just eight hours before his untimely passing.

During their conversation, Prince pitched an idea for a groundbreaking entertainment company that would involve himself, Smith, and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z.

“He said that he had talked to Jay and that he wanted to do it, and we talked that night, and in the morning he was gone,” Smith said. He jokingly added, “I don’t know what that says about me. I tell people not to call me.”

Host Justin Richmond reassured Smith, pointing out that he had received countless phone calls throughout his life and shouldn’t blame himself for the timing of these tragic events.

Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, at his Paisley Park estate in Minneapolis. A week before his death, his private jet had made an emergency landing, and he was briefly hospitalized.

While initial reports suggested it was due to a severe flu, later investigations revealed that he had been given a life-saving injection for an overdose of the painkiller Percocet. His official cause of death was later confirmed to be an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

A Reflection on Life and Legacy

Will Smith’s experiences with Biggie and Prince serve as a stark reminder of how fleeting life can be, even for the most influential figures in music and entertainment.

While both artists left behind powerful legacies that continue to inspire fans around the world, Smith’s stories highlight the personal loss felt by those who knew them or had the privilege of crossing paths with them.

For Smith, these moments have reinforced the importance of cherishing life, making meaningful connections, and honoring those who came before him.

And though his encounters with Biggie and Prince were brief, they clearly left an unforgettable mark on his heart.