The Evolution of Will Smith’s Music Career: From MC to BET Awards Performer in 2024
Will Smith dazzled the audience with his performance of his new song You Can Make It at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday, June 30. This marked his first-ever BET Awards performance and served as a powerful comeback following his notable setback at the 2022 Oscars.
Despite being a prominent Hollywood figure, Smith’s journey to success was initially shaped by his music career. Now, it seems he is reconnecting with his musical roots.
How Will Smith started as an MC?
Prior to his success in films, Will Smith, 55, was known as one half of the hip-hop duo, DJ Jazzy & the Fresh Prince. He teamed up with Jeffrey ‘DJ Jazzy Jeff’ Townes, his childhood friend, and produced award-winning music for several years.
In 1986, they released their first single, Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble, which gained popularity and propelled Smith into the spotlight for his clean and laid-back raps.
Winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for the song Parents Just Don’t Understand in 1989 was a major milestone for Smith’s group. Another hit, Summertime, earned them their second Grammy in 1991.
Despite facing financial difficulties due to a tax debt in the late 1980s, Smith’s career took a positive turn when he landed a sitcom deal with NBC, leading to his breakthrough role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Will Smith’s Performance at the 2024 BET Awards
At the recent BET Awards, Smith delivered a captivating performance of his latest track, You Can Make It, surrounded by a ring of fire and supported by Chandler Moore, Kirk Franklin, and the Sunday Service Choir.
The song’s lyrics convey messages of resilience and hope, reflecting Smith’s eagerness to reintegrate into the entertainment industry. His BET performance coincided with the release of the single and his return to the Bad Boys franchise in Ride or Die.
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