Will Smith took over the stage at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday in his first major solo performance since the infamous Oscar slap.
Following his surprise gig at Coachella, the Bad Boys star, 55, delivered an uplifting rendition of his new song You Can Make It featuring singer Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir.
The gospel-charged track hinted at the actor’s challenges in the public eye following his slap of comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
‘Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith. / In the rearview, I see adversity was the gift,’ the Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum rapped as he stood in a circle of fire on the Peacock Theater stage.
Gospel icon Kirk Franklin joined him on stage to lend vocals, as Smith told the crowd, ‘Nobody gets an easy ride.’
Will Smith took over the stage at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday in his first major solo performance since the infamous Oscar slap
Following his surprise gig at Coachella , the Bad Boys star, 55, delivered an uplifting rendition of his new song You Can Make It featuring singer Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir
‘I don’t know who needs this right now,’ he continued, ‘But I am here to tell you, you can make it.’
The 2024 BET Awards also featured performances by Ice Spice, Sexyy Red, Latto, Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Tyla, GloRilla, Muni Long, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.
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Taraji P. Henson returned as the host, where Grammy-winning singer Usher was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The dynamic performance seems to be another step in Smith’s comeback journey, which kicked off when Bad Boys: Ride or Die hit theaters and achieved impressive box office success, solidifying his return as a major movie star.
Smith also features on the Bad Boys: Ride or Die soundtrack with a Sean Paul collaboration called Light Em Up.
The I Am Legend alum released his last solo single in 2017 and his last album Lost And Found in 2005.
The album sold half a million copies and reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The BET appearance follows Smith’s April cameo with J Balvin at Coachella, where he dressed in full Men in Black attire for Balvin’s UFO-themed set.
BET Awards 2024 winners: AT A GLANCE
Video Of The Year: Victoria Monet, On My Mama
BET Her: Victoria Monet, On My Mama
Best New Artist: Tyla
Best International Act: Tyla
Victoria Monet earned two awards including top honor Video Of The Year
Lifetime Achievement Award: Usher
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Usher
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: SZA
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip-Hip Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Album Of The Year: Killer Mike, Michael
The gospel-charged track hinted at the actor’s challenges in the public eye following his slap of comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards
‘Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith. / In the rearview, I see adversity was the gift,’ the Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum rapped as he stood in a circle of fire on the Peacock Theater stage
Gospel icon Kirk Franklin joined him on stage to lend vocals, as Smith told the crowd, ‘Nobody gets an easy ride’
‘I don’t know who needs this right now,’ Smith continued, ‘But I am here to tell you, you can make it.’
The 2024 BET Awards also featured performances by Ice Spice, Sexyy Red, Latto, Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Tyla, GloRilla, Muni Long, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét
The next month, the star made a grand entrance at the Hollywood premiere of Ride or Die.
Arriving on a double-decker bus with co-star Martin Lawrence, Smith treated the crowd to a quick performance of his 1997 hit Miami, paying tribute to his character, a Miami Police detective.
Long before Smith’s breakout role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990 catapulted him to acting stardom, he made his mark in the entertainment industry as part of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
The two debuted with Rock the House in April 1987, reaching No. 24 on Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop albums chart.
Their 1988 follow-up, He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, achieved triple platinum status and won them a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance with Parents Just Don’t Understand.
Smith launched his solo rap career in the late ’90s with the release of his debut album Big Willie Style in November 1997.
Selling 9 million copies, the album produced a chart-topping hit with Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.
Following Lost and Found in 2005, Smith released two more studio albums before going on hiatus.
In May, Smith hinted that he has been working on a new project for the past year and a half.
He told ET at the time that it was ‘without question the most personal, powerful music that I’ve ever made.’
Will Smith is set to debut new music in his first major solo performance since the infamous Oscar slap; (pictured June)
Following his surprise gig at Coachella (pictured), the Bad Boys star, 55, will take over the stage with an original song at this Sunday’s BET Awards
Details about Smith’s performance remain under wraps, but sources reveal that he is currently working on a new album, per the outlet; (pictured with J. Balvin at 2024 Coachella)
Smith made headlines at another awards show a couple of years ago when he slapped comedian Chris Rock during the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022.
The incident occurred following a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smithl (pictured at 94th Oscars)
Smith made headlines at another awards show a couple of years ago when he slapped Rock during the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022.
The incident occurred following a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
It prompted Will to make his way to the stage, slap Rock and say ‘keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth.’
Jada, meanwhile, released a memoir last year, which revealed a seven-year separation from her husband.