Willow Smith, daughter of Will and Jada-Pinkett is nine-years-old, and she’s bringing out her début album; of which the first single, Whip My Hair, has already been “leaked” and is doing the rounds on the world wide web.If you haven’t already heard it, Whip My Hair is an annoyingly repetitious, but mostly harmless dance track. It’s just a fun and formulaic commercial hit. Consider these opening lyrics:
“Hop up out of bed and turn my swag on / Pay no attention to them haters cuz we whip em off / And we ain’t doing nothing wrong / So don’t tell me nothing, I’m just tryin’a have fun / So keep the party jumping.”
I completely believe that Willow Smith, of all kids, has plenty of “swag”, and as a result, probably a fair share of “haters” too. Certainly now, given the fact she’s signed up to Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation before she’s even hit double digits. Sure, she’s probably got a lot of talent, but why this huge hurry to get out there and make an album? “We are excited to work with Willow,” says Jay-Z.
“She has an energy and enthusiasm about her music that in infectious. We look forward to joining her as she grows in all aspects of her career.” Far be it from me to disagree with Jay-Z, but a career at age nine?
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith are obviously keen to encourage their kids to do well - but doesn’t anyone else get the feeling there’s more than a little touch of cloning going on? (The fact that Will and Jada named their children Willow and Jaden is a sign.) Jaden (age 12) has already starred in three major films, (one with his father), while Willow has starred in two (one with her father) as well as providing a character voice in the same animated movie as her mother. They’re talented kids alright. They’re on their way to megastardom. As proud dad Will Smith says of his kid daughter, “You don’t work with Willow, you work for Willow.”
Now it has just been announced that Romeo Beckham (middle son of David and Victoria Beckham) has his own fashion label, designing sunglasses for children. Naturally, the brand will be called RB, in the style of his mother’s brand, DVB. A source told the Daily Mirror, “Romeo has a real eye for fashion.” Really? He’s eight years old. I mean, that’s really got to piss off the sunglasses designers who have been designing for twenty years or more, huh. This source added, “He has strong opinions on what works and has been badgering David and Victoria for months about designing his own sunglasses.” Every time I read that, I picture the scene between his mum and dad. Posh: “David, Romeo really wants a career, I think we should just get him one.” David: “Why not? He’s been behaving himself lately.”
I certainly agree that children’s talents should be encouraged and developed, and it’s important that kids learn to become confident individuals. Although in both Willow and Romeo’s case, it just seems they’re merely doing what their parents do. Willow Smith admits she got into music watching her parents do their separate music projects and thought “it looked really cool”... and Romeo seems to be merely tagging along in his mum’s fashion world - although it’s refreshing that he didn’t just follow his dad into football. (This is assuming he had the choice.)
Looking to our parents is normal, but when we go through our teenage years we become individuals and learn what makes us different from our parents. Forging a “mini-me” career before this crucial stage seems like a recipe for resentment later in life.
Some might say children of megastars are already in the limelight anyway... so what’s the harm? Well, to answer a question with another question - what’s the rush? Neither Romeo or Willow have turned 10 years old yet. They’ve got their whole, opportunity-ridden lives ahead of them! Why not wait a few years? I mean, surely a career which begins at age nine has more chance of surging (or, if you will, careering) wildly out of control before they’re even in their teens. I know celebrity kids will feel more pressure than usual to stand out and be a success, but it doesn’t mean that pandering to that is the best thing to do.
When I was a kid I wanted to be a writer - “when I grow up”. At the age of eleven I wrote and illustrated book of book of “funny poems”, which I just did for fun. My family all pushed to get it published, but when I got my first rejection letter I decided not to keep pursuing it. I wasn’t ready for “the business” just yet. Nearly two decades on and I’m now a writer, able to deal with rejection, and look back at the hard work that got me to this point. I’m glad I waited until I was older and didn’t just get my first career idea handed to me on a silver platter.
I’m not knocking the Willows and Romeos of this world. I know celebrity kids will never live entirely normal lives, but still... isn’t it a little sad that their working lives start so young? Never mind the fact that Willow’s track is aimed at clubs she won’t be able to get into for another decade. (Although, if you’re Will Smith’s kid, I’m guessing they make an exception.)
Production still from The Pursuit of Happyness © Sony Pictures