WIl Smith’s shocking slap of comedian Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars echoed around the world, but since then the 55-year-old actor has focused on changing his tune with his return to music, debuting his first new song since 2017 on a performance at the BET Awards on Sunday night.
Smith, an Oscar-winning actor and four-time Grammy-winning rapper, took the BET stage alongside collaborators Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir to perform his new single, “You Can Make It,” which was released on Friday. .
Surrounded by a ring of fire, before singing, Smith said, “I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but whatever’s going on in your life, I’m here to tell you that you can do it.”
Contemporary gospel artist Kirk Franklin also joined Smith on stage to emphasize the song’s message of resilience and hope.
“The harder you fall, the higher you climb,” Smith sang. “Just because I’m stuck on a bad chapter doesn’t mean in my lifetime I have to throw away the entire book,” Franklin added.
The “Fresh Prince” teased his new song in social media before its release, saying he was excited to perform it at the BET Awards. “In some of my darkest moments, music has always been there for me – to lift me up and help me grow,” he said. “It is my humble hope that this can do the same for you and bring you all the joy and light you deserve.”
Smith began his music career as one half of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. He then found stardom in Hollywood by portraying a fictional version of himself in a comedy. Fresh prince of Bel Airwhich aired from 1990 to 1996. After starring in several highly successful films, including Bad Boys It is Independence DayIn 1997, he starred in the first film in the science fiction franchise Men in Black and debuted his solo music career with his original theme song topping the charts. His first solo album Big Willie Style became one of the best-selling rap records of all time.
Its high-profile reputation, however, suffered a huge fall following the incident at the 2022 Oscars, in which he won Best Actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father in King Richard. He later apologized for his outburst, apparently prompted by Rock’s joke about the hair of Jada Pinkett-Smith, Smith’s wife, who suffers from alopecia.
Despite this, Smith’s career appears to be thriving again. The fourth installment of your Bad Boys film franchise launched in June, and he joined reggaeton artist J Balvin at Coachella in April for a surprise performance of his song “Men in Black”.
He may also have more music on the way. “I have a project that is, without a doubt, the most personal and powerful music I’ve ever made,” Smith shared in May with Extra. “So, you know, I’ll sneakily reveal this to you in a month or so.”
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
