The Willennium album was only the second solo studio album by the then already famous actor, rapper Will Smith. Recorded with various producers and with his former collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff, the album was a commercial success. It reached #5 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA. Willennium also reached the top ten on the UK Albums chart and was successful in other regions.

At the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video for the single “Wild Wild West” received nominations for the Video of the Year, Best Video from a Film and Best Choreography awards. Smith won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist at the 27th American Music Awards in January 2000.

The single “Wild Wild West” was the theme song to Will Smith’s 1999 same titled summer blockbuster movie and samples Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” and Kool Moe Dee’s “Wild Wild West” old school hip/hop track. “Will 2K” sampling The Clash’s “Rock The Casbah” and “Freakin’ It” were also released as singles.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Willennium on Allmusic positively as “gaudy, giddy, infectiously silly, and proudly over-the-top” praising the album for featuring “bright, joyful party music that celebrates its big beats and big hooks”.

The Willennium album enjoyed success as an energetic and artistically diverse LP.