Will Smith releases brand new song at the BET Awards

Will Smith released his new song “You Can Make It” with a rousing performance at the BET Awards on Sunday (June 30).

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air The 55-year-old star recently returned to music with a collaboration with Sean Paul, “Light ‘Em Up,” on the soundtrack of his latest film. Bad Boys: Ride or Die – his first music release in almost half a decade.

News of the release of his new song broke last week, albeit with limited details, while BET promised “another culturally defining night that won’t be missed.”

Supported by the Sunday Service Choir and artists Chandler Moor and Kirk Franklin, the performance received a standing ovation from the audience.

Performing in a ring of fire and rubble, surrounded by a choir towering in shadows high above him, Smith’s song was about emerging from the “dark night of the soul” and the determination and faith needed to get through difficult moments.

“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,” he rapped.

“Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith dry / In the rearview mirror I see that adversity was the gift / To rise to higher gifts takes 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 and into the rays / The darkest night turns to day / And every storm runs out of rain.”

As the ring of fire is extinguished by a shower of rain, Smith says, “We are not punished, we are forged. Dance in your darkest moments.”

Following the event Bad Boys The actor shared a video of his performance on X/Twitter with the caption, “I’ve returned home! The comeback is always bigger than the setback.”

In April, Smith made a surprise appearance at Coachella, joining Colombian singer J Balvin during his set.

The cameo fit with Balvin’s alien-themed set, which featured a giant alien head and a dummy UFO.

“From his beginnings as a rapper to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air “From a box office hit as one of the Bad Boys to a box office smash, Will Smith is truly a global icon and we are honored to welcome him back to the BET Awards stage,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.