Will Smith hit the BET Awards stage Sunday night time to carry out a brand-new music, “You Can Make It,” backed by the Sunday Service Choir, Chandler Moore and Kirk Franklin.
Smith kicked off the efficiency standing on what was meant to appear like lava, surrounded by hearth and rapping lyrics together with: “The darker the hell you gotta endure / The brighter the heaven you get to enjoy / The harder the fall, the higher you soar / God opens a window when the devil closes the door / Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith / In the rearview, I see adversity was the gift / To lift me higher gifts requires faith / So dry your eyes and then you’ll find a way / Out of the madness, out of the maze / And out of the saddest into the rays / The darkest of nights turns into day / And every storm runs out of rain.”
He was joined by Sunday Service Choir, Fridayy and Franklin on the stage for a rousing efficiency that drew a lot of cheers from the viewers, who gave him a standing ovation. The efficiency additionally featured what regarded like rain, ending with the hearth being put out and extra inspiring lyrics rapped by Smith: “Nobody gets an easy ride / We all have a cross to bear / But there’s wisdom in that fire / And every moment of your life is a brand-new opportunity / We are not being punished, we are being forged / Dance in your darkest moments.”
Forward of the present, particulars concerning the music and his efficiency have been unknown. When BET introduced the information final week, it didn’t supply something additional beyone a quote from Connie Orlando, government vp specials, music programming and music technique at BET: “From his start as a rapper to the Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage. We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.”
Nevertheless, on Friday, Smith dropped the music, that includes Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir.
“Who hasn’t been in a dark place? Who hasn’t gone through the fire? What connects us is knowing that you are not alone,” Sunday Service posted on Instagram on Friday. “Will Smith reminds us of that common connection! That if you’re willing, there are life lessons in dark places! The journey not only produces healing, but also provides growth and wisdom.”
Smith, in fact, made it huge as one-half of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Recent Prince, with hits together with “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” “A Nightmare on My Street” and “Summertime,” earlier than launching a profitable solo profession (“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” “Miami”).
He went on to star within the hit sitcom The Recent Prince of Bel-Air earlier than embarking a profitable movie profession, with hits together with the Dangerous Boys franchise, the Males in Black franchise and Independence Day. He has been nominated for an Oscar 4 instances, successful greatest main actor in 2022 for King Richard. That additionally was the yr of the notorious slapping incident, whereby Smith took to the stage and bodily assaulted presenter Chris Rock after the latter made a joke about Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith later apologized and introduced he was resigning from the Academy and has been banned from showing at Academy occasions for 10 years.
In April, Smith hit the stage at Coachella with J. Balvin to carry out his hit music “Men in Black,” from the 1997 field workplace blockbuster movie of the identical identify.
Taraji P. Henson is internet hosting the 2024 BET Awards, the place Usher shall be offered with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The present is airing reside on BET from Downtown Los Angeles. As Henson famous, Smith additionally hosted the present in 2005, alongside Jada Pinkett Smith.
See an inventory of 2024 BET Awards winners.
