Miami (Will Smith song)

"Miami" was produced by production duo Poke and Tone, consisting of Samuel Barnes and Jean-Claude Olivier, along with L.E.S. for Will Smith's solo debut, Big Willie Style (1997).^[2] The track was developed following their work on "Men in Black," Smith's single from the soundtrack to the 1997 film of the same name, during which the producers established a close professional relationship with him that carried over into his solo project. Big Willie Style (1997).^[2] "Miami" is largely build upon a sample from the Whispers's 1979 single "And the Beat Goes On" and functions as a tribute to the city of the same name.

For the recording of "Miami," producers Barnes and Olivier sought a Spanish-speaking vocalist to deliver the phrase "Bienvenidos a Miami" in the song's introduction.^[2] They recruited the singer spontaneously while at the Hit Factory studio, approaching passersby outside the studio to find someone for the recording.^[2] While many of the women they asked were skeptical, and some initially did not believe that Smith was present, they ultimately found a vocalist who agreed to participate and contributed the line to the track.^[2]

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?"^[3]

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. Actress Eva Mendes appears driving a car next to Smith and his bandmates. 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)".