Miami (Will Smith song)

"Miami" is a song by American rapper and actor Will Smith from his debut solo album, Big Willie Style (1997). It samples the Whispers's 1979 single "And the Beat Goes On". Released as a single on November 23, 1998, the song charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.

"Miami"
Single by Will Smith
from the album Big Willie Style
B-side	"Just the Two of Us" (remix) "Just Cruisin'" (remix)
Released	November 23, 1998 (1998-11-23)
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	3:18
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Ryan Toby Willard Smith Leon Sylvers III Stephen Shockley William Shelby
Producer(s)	Poke & Tone L.E.S.
Will Smith singles chronology
"Just the Two of Us" (1998) "Miami" (1998) "Wild Wild West" (1999)
Music video
"Miami" on YouTube

"Miami" won the Best Male Video award at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. The video, which incorporates the first two verses and refrains of the selection's "radio edit" followed by the third verse and refrain of its "Miami Mix", features an early on-screen appearance of Smith's future Hitch co-star, Eva Mendes.

Critical reception

Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "Smith should have no problem maintaining the momentum of his current album, "Big Willie Style", with this third single, following the ubiquitous "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Just The Two Of Us". On "Miami", he talks us up with an ode to the heat, style, and hip factor of that city. This time around, Smith employs the instrumental hook of the Whispers' 1979 single "And The Beat Goes On", which adds a classic, string-filled disco backdrop as festive as the city itself. With Smith's record on the airwaves and at the box office, as well as his appeal with younger demographics, this really is a no-brainer, now isn't it?"^[2]

Music video

In the music video for the song, Smith and members of his band are freezing in Philadelphia, where it is −30 °F (−34 °C), causing a bandmate to curse Jack Frost. They hop on a plane to Miami, and are shown going around Miami in their car and various scenes morph into one another. The video ends with Will Smith and his band performing a concert. The video features samples from Gloria Estefan's hits "Conga" and "You'll Be Mine (Party Time)".

Track listings

UK CD1[3] "Miami" (radio edit) – 3:19 "Miami" (Miami mix) – 4:40 "Miami" (Jason Nevins "Live on South Beach dub") – 5:10 UK CD2[4] "Miami" (radio edit) – 3:19 "Just the Two of Us" (Rodney Jerkins remix) – 4:14 "Just Cruisin'" (Trackmasters remix) – 4:11

UK cassette single and European CD single[5][6] "Miami" (radio edit) – 3:19 "Miami" (Miami mix) – 4:40 Australian CD single[7] "Miami" (radio edit) – 3:19 "Miami" (Jason Nevins Live at "54" mix) – 5:57 "Miami" (Miami mix) – 4:40 "Miami" (Jason Nevins "Live on South Beach dub") – 5:10

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 27 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 11 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[13] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 11 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 8 France (SNEP)[16] 45 Germany (GfK)[17] 12 Hungary (Mahasz)[18] 7 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] 14 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 10 Poland (Music & Media)[25] 6 Scotland (OCC)[26] 10 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[29] 3 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[30] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[31] 17 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 73 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[33] 7 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[34] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Sweden (Hitlistan)[35] 50 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 51 Chart (1999) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 68 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[38] 87 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[39] 48 Germany (Media Control)[40] 67 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 66 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 71 Sweden (Hitlistan)[43] 95 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[44] 19 US Billboard Hot 100[45] 53

Sales and certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[46]	Gold	25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[47]	Platinum	90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[48]	Gold	250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[49] digital sales since 2009	Gold	50,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[50]	Gold	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] digital sales since 2008	2× Platinum	1,200,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 6, 1998	Urban radio	Columbia	[52]
	October 13, 1998	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio		[53]
United Kingdom	November 23, 1998	CD cassette		[54]