Philadelphia renames road to honour actor Will Smith

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Part of a street in Philadelphia, US, has been renamed after actor Will Smith in honour of where the Hollywood star was born and raised.

In West Philadelphia a section of 59th Street, near to where the actor went to high school, is now called Will Smith Way.

At a ceremony with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Smith said: "Philly, I love you. I am yours. You are mine". The 'Independence Day' star recalled how years of hard work and dedication helped shape his career. 

"Nobody gets an easy ride. That was one of the things these streets of Philadelphia taught me, that there's nothing wrong with a hard day's work." He said.

Smith rose to fame starring in the hit 1992 TV show 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', starring as a teenager from Philadelphia living with relatives in Los Angeles. It was in Overbrook High School, in Philadelphia that Smith came up with the name 'The Fresh Prince', he said during the ceremony. 

The star, who has enjoyed a fruitful rap career is releasing his fifth studio album "Based on a True Story" this week - his firth musical project in two decades. 

Smith's music has landed him multiple Grammy Awards for songs including "Summertime," Men in Black," "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Parents Just Don't Understand."

 

 

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