TCB

---

Pinkett Slip

The Fresh Prince's wife fronts a metal band. Who knew? Since 2003, Jada Pinkett Smith (A Different World, Collateral) has been the voice of Wicked Wisdom, the L.A. quintet she describes as "a progressive, aggressive, hard rock band." A day before embarking on the tour that brings Wicked Wisdom to the Back Room Sunday, she called en route to a studio to "tweak" their upcoming album, due Feb. 21 on her own 100 Percent Woman label.

TCB: Were you always into hard rock and metal?

Jada Pinkett Smith: I grew up on MTV and you have to remember, when MTV first started, that's when metal really ruled the world. My generation grew up on Guns N' Roses and Poison and Metallica and Nine Inch Nails. I was getting that Guns N' Roses album with my Eric B. & Rakim album.

TCB: How was being on Ozzfest this year?

JPS: Oh, Ozzfest was a trip. I had a really good time. It was very challenging. Those first few shows, they were rough. There was a huge learning curve for me. Ozzfest is a beast of its own. There's no audience like it.

TCB: What was it like being a woman in such a testosterone-heavy environment?

JPS: I'm used to that. That's been kinda my life, being the only chick. That doesn't bother me. I feel very comfortable in male-dominated environments. Shoot, being in Hollywood, that's just my life.

TCB: Has your husband seen the band?

JPS: Oh heck yeah. He was on Ozzfest with us for most of the run. He loved it.

TCB: What's harder, acting or singing in a band?

JPS: Oh, singing in a band for sure. In acting, I'd studied for years before I actually hit the stage, but this music thing, you have to really fall on your face in front of people to learn and grow. But that's also what makes it so much more gratifying.