Will Smith Reveals Major Decision About His Music Career

Will Smith is poised for a musical revival, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, signing a deal with the independent label SLANG following a dynamic performance at the BET Awards. The announcement of his new musical journey brings excitement to his fans worldwide.

SLANG is spearheaded by Rene McLean, who is also a partner and founding adviser at Influence Media Partners, a renowned music entertainment company. SLANG’s artist lineup includes Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Camper, hip-hop producer 30 Roc, and several rising stars like Leaf, The Underachievers, Truththebull, Isaia Huron, and RY XP.

McLean expressed his enthusiasm for SLANG’s mission and its dedication to supporting artists across various genres and career stages. He said, “I’m proud to lead SLANG’s efforts to partner with quality artists and invest in their growth, regardless of genre or where they are in their respective careers. In a quickly changing music industry, SLANG artists will be surrounded by a team of like-minded strategists who will stop at nothing to further their trajectory and help them meet their goals. Our commitment to culture comes first, and we consider our SLANG roster family.”

McLean has a history of successful acquisition deals, having secured catalogs for prominent artists like Future, Tyler Johnson of Miley Cyrus’ Flowers and Harry Styles’ As It Was, and Latin music producer Tainy. His impressive track record includes collaborations with legends such as Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Pharrell, and Timbaland.

Smith’s performance at the BET Awards on June 30 was a profound moment. Accompanied by the Sunday Service Choir and R&B singer Friday, Smith delivered an electrifying rendition of “You Can Make It,” enveloped in a dramatic setup of fire and rain. Gospel star Kirk Franklin also contributed to the memorable performance.

Smith’s music career commenced in 1987 with DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Townes) & the Fresh Prince, releasing their debut album Rock the House. The duo won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 with the hit single “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” Their most successful track, “Summertime,” garnered them a second Grammy and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

Over his career, Smith has accumulated multiple accolades, including four Grammy Awards. He won Best Rap Solo Performance for “Men in Black” in 1998 and “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It” in 1999. His latest album, Lost and Found, was released in 2005, reaching number six on the US Billboard 200 and achieving Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Despite shifting his focus more towards acting, Smith continued to dabble in music, collaborating with artists like Marc Anthony, Nicky Jam, Joyner Lucas, Bomba Estéreo, and his son, Jaden Smith. For his recent film Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Smith teamed up with Sean Paul for the soundtrack’s song “Light Em Up.”

Smith is close to achieving EGOT status, having secured an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in King Richard and four Grammy Awards. He has been nominated for both an Emmy and a Tony, placing him among the few Black actors to receive nods for all four major US entertainment awards. His Emmy nomination stemmed from his role as a producer on Netflix’s Cobra Kai in 2021, while his Tony nod arose from his co-production efforts with Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jay-Z for the musical Fela! in 2010.

Smith’s resilience and determination shine through in his new music endeavors. On Instagram, he revealed that his recent musical projects revolve around the theme “Dance in your Darkest Moments.” He wrote, “Over the past couple of years I’ve had to learn a different way to be with adversity — a different way to face hard times. I created this bracelet as a reminder to myself to Stay Steady in the Storms. Because in the darkest valleys, there is Gold to be found!”

With this renewed commitment to music, it seems that Smith is entering a new chapter of his career, bringing his unique blend of talent and inspiration to his audience once again.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter