Will Smith has gone again to his roots!
On Sunday, June 30, the Academy Award-winning actor, 55, hit the stage to debut his new track “You Can Make It” reside on the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
He began off his efficiency within the heart of a burning fireplace pit as he kicked off with lyrics like, “You might be within the smoke and the hearth / Tight rope on the wires / I see you’re damaged and drained / And all of your hope is expired / You’re simply accomplished with the change and the video games and the disgrace / And the world is insane all of the ache from the flames that you simply stroll by way of.”
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The actor/rapper was then joined by Kirk Franklin, Chandler Moore and the Sunday Service choir as he carried out his uplifting observe by way of a rainstorm onstage.
Smith concluded his efficiency with an encouraging message for audiences, saying, “No person will get a straightforward journey. All of us have a cross to bear, however there may be knowledge in that fireplace. And each single second of your life is a model new alternative.”
“We aren’t being punished; we’re being cast,” he added. “Dance in your darkest moments.”
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Final week, BET introduced Smith as a particular performer forward of the discharge of his new single, which dropped on Friday, June 28.
“From his begin as a rapper to The Recent Prince to being a field workplace king as one of many Dangerous Boys, Will Smith is actually a world icon, and we’re honored to welcome him again to grace the BET Awards stage,” Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Technique at BET, stated in a press assertion forward of Sunday’s present.
Earlier than reaching field workplace heights, in 1989, Smith made historical past as the primary rapper to win a Grammy. Below his moniker, the Recent Prince, he and DJ Jazzy Jeff took residence the award for finest rap efficiency for his or her 1988 hit single, “Mother and father Simply Do not Perceive.”
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Days earlier than his 2024 BET Awards efficiency, the artist-turned-actor shared a video of himself on Instagram showcasing a little-known expertise of his.
“Via a few of my darkest moments, music has at all times been there for me – to carry me and assist me develop,” Smith captioned a clip of himself enjoying the piano. “It’s my humble want that it could do the identical for you and produce you all the enjoyment and lightweight you deserve.”
The tune was from his new single, “You Can Make It,” which he stated he was “excited” to carry out on the 2024 BET Awards.
Smith final launched music together with his 2017 EDM observe “Get Lit,” which came visiting a decade after his final studio album, 2005’s Misplaced and Discovered.
The King Richard actor was initially scheduled to make his musical comeback on the 2023 Grammy Awards, nevertheless, the annual ceremony coincided with filming for his newly launched movie Dangerous Boys 4. His efficiency would have been a part of the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop tribute.
“I am going to give the spoiler alert away. Will Smith was part of the festivities tonight, however they began taking pictures Dangerous Boys 4 this week,” Questlove told Variety on the Grammys pink carpet in 2023. “There have been a whole lot of preliminary pictures that he needed to do, so we needed to lose Will.”
Dangerous Boys 4 went on to earn $56 million domestically in its opening weekend, Variety reported. In line with Deadline, the movie, which costars Martin Lawrence, introduced in $105 million globally opening weekend.
The 2024 BET Awards are airing reside on June 30 at 8 p.m. ET/ PT reside from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
