Will Smith steals the show at 2024 BET Awards with stunning comeback after seven years

The 2024 BET Awards got a contemporary twist because of Will Smith. 

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 30 to debut his new single, You Can Make It, a robust anthem about redemption. 

The efficiency marked a big second for Will, being his first solo show since the much-discussed 2022 Oscars incident.

Emerging in a dramatic ring of fireside, Will captivated the viewers as he rapped alongside The Sunday Service Choir. 

His lyrics spoke volumes about resilience and perseverance. “The darker the hell you gotta endure, the brighter the heaven you get to enjoy,” he sang with emotion. “Every storm runs out of rain, hold on.”

Will’s efficiency was a name to bounce via life’s hardest moments. “Nobody gets an easy ride. We all have a cross to bear,” he rapped. 

“But there is wisdom in that fire.” This stirring debut of his new ballad is his first solo launch in over six years, showcasing his enduring expertise and relevance in the music world.

But Will hasn’t been totally out of the highlight. Earlier in 2024, he made a shock look throughout J Balvin’s Coachella efficiency, delighting followers by recreating his iconic rap and dance strikes from the 1997 Men in Black music video. 

Prior to that, in 2017, Will and his long-time collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff launched an EDM observe titled Get Lit. 

© Christopher Polk

The duo premiered the track at the Livewire Festival, the place Will shared the inspiration behind it. 

“People can say stuff to you and tell you, you can’t do it, and you know you can,” he instructed the crowd, in response to NME. “But when they tell you that, it kind of knocks you down a bit, right? So I wanted to make a record that reminded each and every one of y’all to let your light shine.”

© Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

Will’s return to music coincides with one other thrilling comeback inside his household. His son, Jaden Smith, not too long ago launched his first single in three years, Roses, on June 21. 

The new observe has been warmly obtained by followers and household alike. Jaden’s return to the music scene is noteworthy, as he hadn’t launched any new materials since his 2021 single Bye and his 2020 album, CTV3: Cool Tape Vol. 3.