''I Imagine That's How Michael Jackson Was As A Kid''
12:00PM ET September 9th, 2010
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper/mogul Jay-Z has confirmed that 9-year old Willow Smith has signed a deal with his Roc Nation label. The daughter of actors Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith recorded a single "Whip My Hair" that has the Web buzzing and has prompted Rihanna comparisons.

"First off, I heard the record first, before I knew that it was recorded by a nine year-old," Jay said in an interview with radio host Ryan Seacrest. "I was like, 'Man, that record is a smash.' -- I went to Japan to do some stuff and they were out there and I met Willow and she walked in and the first thing she said was, 'I'm really nervous,' and I thought that maturity, explaining exactly how she was feeling as she was walking in the room, I knew right there she was a star."

"I believe in super stars," Jay continued. "And I believe in big records on super stars...Yes, [I signed her and we plan on helping her] facilitate all her ideas. As you're going to learn today, if you sit with her for a half hour, you'll see, she's just a wealth of information and ideas...She's a child, she has child innocence but she has a refreshing clear vision of what she wants to be...And I imagine that's how Mike [Jackson] was as a kid."