Will Smith restarts his music career and presents a new song at the BET Awards 2024

He is no longer the Fresh Prince, but Will Smith is back behind the microphone.

Smith, 55, performed his new song “You Can Make It” at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 30. The song was officially released on Friday, June 28.

Nestled in a theatrically burning fireplace, Smith opened the performance by telling the audience: “I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but whatever is going on in your life, I’m here to tell you, you can do it,” which Bad Boys: Ride or Die new song by the actor.

The song is Smith’s first since 2017’s “Get Lit,” which was released more than 10 years after his last studio album. Lost and foundfrom 2005.

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The lyrics of “You Can’t Make It” go: “Don’t give up on me, you gotta hold on / You know you’re in the middle of the storm / But I know you can make it through.”

The song also includes the lyrics: “The darker the hell you must endure / The brighter the heaven you can 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 dry / In the rearview mirror, I see that misfortune was the gift.”

Three days before Smith’s BET performance, the star posted a video of himself playing his song on the piano on Instagram. “In some of my darkest moments, music has always been there for me – to lift me up and help me grow,” Smith wrote under the video. “It is my humble wish that it can do the same for you and bring you all the joy and light you deserve.”

The actor was accompanied on stage at the BET Awards by Kirk Franklin, Chandler Moore and the Sunday Service Choir, while the performance took place on stage despite a rainstorm.

Smith’s musical career has brought him worldwide recognition in the past and has earned him four Grammy awards over the years. In 1988 he and DJ Jazzy Jeff‘s hit single “Parents Just Don’t Understand”, which was featured in films such as The parent trap And Jersey Girlswon a Grammy for best rap performance.

Smith’s foray behind the microphone comes at a time when his film career is rapidly rising. Bad Boys: Ride or Die Opening to a successful $56.5 million, according to The Hollywood Reporterat domestic box offices on June 5th.

In the film, Smith is repeatedly beaten by Martin Lawrence‘s character during a panic attack, which some have interpreted as a reference to Smith’s punch Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars.

Although the infamous incident was met with criticism, Bad Boys Manufacturer Jerry Bruckheimer said later that year in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, that he would “definitely” work with Smith on another film.

“Will unfortunately made a mistake,” said the 80-year-old Bruckheimer in the interview. “That’s not who he is. He’s a phenomenal actor and there is always forgiveness in the world.”