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 Itfeaturing singer Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir.
The gospel-charged trackhinted 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 featuredperformances by Ice Spice, Sexyy Red, Latto, Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Tyla, GloRilla, Muni Long, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.
Taraji P. Henson returned as the host, where Grammy-winning singerUsherwas 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
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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 GrammyAward 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 ETat 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 memoirlast year, which revealed a seven-year separation from her husband.
2024 BET Awards Winners
Album of the Year
Chris Brown, 11:11
Gunna, A Gift & A Curse
21 Savage, American Dream
Usher, Coming Home
Drake, For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition)
Victoria Monét, Jaguar II
Killer Mike, Michael(WINNER)
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
SZA (WINNER)
Tyla
Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher(WINNER)
Best Group
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign (WINNER)
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor
Best Collaboration
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole - All My Life (WINNER)
Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar - America Has a Problem (Remix)
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua) - Barbie World
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion - Bongos
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti - Carnival
Lola Brooke feat. Latto & Yung Miami - Don’t Play With It (Remix)
Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert - Everybody
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage - Good Good
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA - Rich Baby Daddy
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj (WINNER)
Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar(WINNER)
Lil Wayne
Video of the Year
Doja Cat - Agora Hills
Lil Durk feat J. Cole - All My Life
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua) - Barbie World
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion - Bongos
Drake feat. J. Cole - First Person Shooter
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage - Good Good
Victoria Monét - On My Mama (WINNER)
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA - Rich Baby Daddy
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett (WINNER)
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
41
4Batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla (WINNER)
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Shirley Caesar - Award All of the Glory
Kirk Franklin - All Things
Halle Bailey - Angel
CeCe Winans - Come Jesus Come
Erica Campbell - Do You Believe in Love?
Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore - God Problems
Tems - Me & U(WINNER)
Kirk Franklin - Try Love
Best International Act
Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk’ (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa)(WINNER)
BET Her
Beyoncé - 16 Carriages
Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Blessings
Ayra Starr - Commas
Flo feat. Missy Elliott - Fly Girl
Megan Thee Stallion - Hiss
Victoria Monét - On My Mama (WINNER)
SZA - Saturn
GloRilla - Yeah Glo!
Best Movie
American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love (WINNER)
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Book of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid
Best Actor
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington(WINNER)
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King (WINNER)
Youngstars Award
Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter (WINNER)
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria McCullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese (WINNER)
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson (WINNER)
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry
Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act
Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa)
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)
Viewer’s Choice Award
Doja Cat - Agora Hills
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole - All My Life
Gunna - Fukumean
Jack Harlow - Lovin on Me
Muni Long - Made for Me
Victoria Monét - On My Mama
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA - Rich Baby Daddy
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay - Sensational
Beyoncé - Texas Hold ‘Em
Tyla - Water
Lifetime Achievement Award
Usher (WINNER)
