Will Smith leaves Columbia Records

NEW YORK (Will Smith Fans Website) - Rapper-actor Will Smith and his label, Columbia Records, which is distributed by Sony, have reportedly parted ways. Several reports have surfaced, with some stating that Smith was dropped by the label while others maintain that he didn't renew his contract. When we contacted Columbia, the label would not comment on Smith or whether or not he was still on their roster.

Smith's last release, 2002's Born To Reign, was a commercial disappointment, but 1997's Big Willie Style sold more than 8 million copies, and its follow-up, 1999's Willennium, sold better than 2 million copies.

Smith also enjoyed success as one-half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince in the late '80s and early '90s. The duo's debut set, 1987's Rock The House, was certified gold. They returned with their breakthrough set in 1988, He's The D.J., I'm The Rapper, which sold more than three million copies. The 1989 follow-up, And In This Corner..., was a commercial disappointment, selling only about 500,000 copies.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince returned to prominence in 1991 with the release of Homebase, which went platinum. The duo's last release, 1993's Code Red, was certified gold.

Smith is scheduled to turn up next on the big screen this summer in Bad Boys 2, opposite Martin Lawrence. The film is the sequel to 1995's Bad Boys.