Will Smith has said that ‘Work Of Art’ – his latest single with Russ and son Jaden – is “the song where [he] found his voice”.
Smith recently dropped the second song from his highly-anticipated fifth album ‘Dance In Your Darkest Moments’. In the accompanying video, Smith and Russ can be seen performing around a museum and – at times – posing as art.
In a video where Russ and Smith discuss how the track was made, the latter said: “‘Work of Art’ was the song where I found my voice.
“That’s how I wanna sound, that’s what I wanna talk about. I had recorded probably 20 tracks before that and there was the old constellation of ideas of who I thought I needed to be that was coming through in the music.”
Smith also alluded to the infamous 2022 Oscars moment where he slapped Chris Rock for making a distasteful joke about his estranged wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
“It was really the first time in my life since childhood that I got the shit kicked out of me,” Smith said in regards to the media backlash he received. “You know, I had a run of the gods. It’s like, it was really the first time experiencing what it’s like to get stomped.”
‘Work Of Art’ will feature on Smith’s first album in 19 years, ‘Dance In Your Darkest Moments’ (per Billboard). The record will serve as the follow-up to 2005’s ‘Lost & Found’ and include the lead single ‘You Can Make It’.
Smith performed ‘You Can Make It’ at the 2024 BET Awards with the Sunday Service Choir, gospel icon Kirk Franklin and R&B singer Fridayy. While on stage, he gave a powerful speech that seemingly reflected on when he slapped Rock.
“Nobody gets an easy ride,’ he said. “We all have a cross to bear, but there’s wisdom in the fire, and every moment is an opportunity. Embrace the journey.”
In May, the rapper-turned-Hollywood actor shared that he was ready to return to music and had created “a project that is the most personal and powerful music project” he’s done yet. Last month, he signed a new record deal with SLANG – Big Sean, Mary J. Blige, Cardi B, and Roddy Ricch are also on the label’s roster (per Forbes).
At the beginning of his career, Smith was a part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince and dropped their debut album ‘Rock The House’ in 1987. They achieved fame with chart-toppers like ‘Summertime’ and ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’, with the latter earning the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989.
Smith then became a solo star and dominated the charts with tracks such as his 1997 debut single ‘Men In Black’ and ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’ – both of which earned him two Best Rap Solo Performance Grammys.
Since ‘Lost & Found’, he has been featured on songs by Marc Anthony, Nicky Jam, Joyner Lucas, Bomba Estéreo and Jaden. Most recently, he teamed up with Sean Paul for the Bad Boys: Ride Or Die soundtrack. Earlier this year, he joined J Balvin onstage at Coachella for a performance of ‘Men In Black’.
Ahead of the launch of Bose X NME: C24, singer-songwriter Teddy Swims revealed to NME that he recently recorded a song with his “hero” Smith.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with it and can’t confirm anything, but just being with him and learning knowledge and wisdom from someone who’s been through it all was crazy,” he said. “He’s the sweetest guy ever,” the Atlanta-born soul-pop singer-songwriter added.
The fourth instalment of the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, came out in June. In a two-star review, NME wrote: “Martin Lawrence and Will Smith are on the beat once more with Bad Boys: Ride or Die – a noisy, unfunny fourth instalment that’s only made endurable by some raucous action scenes.”
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