“Parents Just Don’t Understand” is the second single in DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince’s second album.  In 1989 “Parents Just Don’t Understand” won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.  In this single, Will Smith raps about how parents don’t understand what kids go through in school and as a teen.  Also Will Smith raps about how kids make mistakes but the parents will never understand.  Will Smith’s intent is to warn teens that parents just don’t understand them and there is no point in trying to convince them otherwise. He organizes his rap to connect with most teens and what they go through during a school year and to show that parents will never understand teens.

            Will Smith organizes his rap to show that the parents just don’t understand the teens in every situation from school to impressing friends.  Will Smith establishes credibility by relating to situations that most teenagers, if not all, experience in their teenage years.  In the opening scene of the music video, Will’s mom breaks down the door to his room to get him out of bed.  Most teenagers can relate to their parents screaming at them to wake up for multiple reasons.  Will Smith starts his rap by stating his intent that “parents just don’t understand.”  Will Smith raps, “They don’t understand that us kids are going to make some mistakes, so to you, all kids across the land, there’s no need to argue, parents just don’t understand.”  Then Will Smith raps about before school shopping.  He relates to most teenagers when parents don’t buy what they ask for especially clothes.  Will Smith asks for Adidas shoes and his mom buys him Zips!  When Will tries to explain to his mom that the kids will tease him she says, “No, you go to school to learn not a fashion show.”  Will Smith reiterates his intent after he failed to convince his parents to return the clothes.  Then Will Smith raps about when he was left alone with his dad’s new car.  He decides to take the car out for a drive to impress his friends but instead he meets a beautiful girl.  Will Smith tries to impress the girl by driving fast until a police officer pulls him over.  The police officer calls his parents.  Will Smith tries to plead his case but his father refused to listen and shoves him into the car.  Finally he ends his rap with the same phrase, “parents just don’t understand.” 

            Will Smith connects with the audience by using situations that most teens can relate to.  The three examples he used were waking up, before school shopping and trying to impress a girl.  In these situations Will Smith tries to explain why he doesn't want to wear the clothes his mom bought and why he drove his dad’s new car but in both situations his parents just wouldn't listen to his argument.