Jay-Z Signs Willow Smith To Roc Nation

On Our Haute List

Jay-Z Signs Willow Smith To Roc Nation

Posted at 09/10/2010 by Staff 0 Comment

Jay-Z has signed Will and Jada’s daughter, Willow Smith, to his label, Roc Nation. The 9-year-old is showing off her singing skills on her new song, “Whip My Hair” that has quickly gained popularity online.

Willow appeared on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show to talk about the meaning behind her new song, “Whip My Hair”:

“It means be an individual, you can’[t be afraid to be yourself…and you can’t let anyone tell you that that’s wrong…My mom and I we’re very strong…and I just know that because lots of people don’t act like themselves so they’re not happy.”

And she talked a little bit about what it felt like to be the object of so much press attention:

“It’s very very amazing, and it’s very overwhelming ‘cause all of the red carpet and the flashes, all the people wanting to meet you, it’s very overwhelming for a nine year old.”

Jay-Z called into the show to share how he discovered the 9-year-old’s music:

“I heard the record first before I knew that it was recorded by a 9-year-old and J.Brown said “She’s 9” and he said, she’s Will and Jada’s daughter….I met Willow and the first thing she said was “I’m really nervous,”..I knew right then she was a star.”

Jay-Z also compared her to the late Michael Jackson:

“She’s a child, she has child innocence but she has clear vision of what she wants and who she wants to be…I don’t wanna go too far but I imagine that was how Michael Jackson was as a child.”

Jigga had some advice to the young star:

“Just enjoy it, enjoy the process and have fun doing it….I’m gonna try to help her not let the music change any of those ideas. Stick to those ideas of who she is as a person.”