Will Smith made his comeback to rapping with a performance tonight at the 2024 BET Awards , performing his new song called "You Can Make It" featuring gospel legend Kirk Franklin and Fridayy. The powerful performance was appreciated by some fans, while others were confused about the message or the motivation behind it.
Some compared the performance to Kanye West , while others said this was his way of publicly repenting for slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. "I don't know who needs to hear this right now, but whatever is going on in your life, I'm here to tell you, you can make it," Will said at the start of his performance.
"I see you broken and tired and all your hope is expired," he rapped, as he performed alongside Kanye's Sunday Service Choir. "If God is for real, you just wonder if he'll listen. So many tests for the flesh, exhausted, gasping to catch your breath, walking through the valley of the shadow of death, when you think you got nothing left, keep going."
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The new song and the featured artist gave fans a bit of deja vu and reminded them of Kanye, who went from making rap music to gospel music. "Will smith… lmfaooo. Is this new music?! Lmfaoooooo. Will smith over here trying to be the new Kanye. Please stop. Get me off this floor," one fan quipped.
"This Will Smith performance is giving Kanye West!!" a fan said, sharing a GIF from Kanye's "Jesus Walks" video.
"Will Smith cosplaying as Kanye West is killing me right now but the song is beautiful! #BETAwards," one person added.
"Will Smith really tapped in to the Ye pocket. An Ultralight Beam moment. I'm here for it," another said, supporting the actor. "Will Smith’s Creative Director Ye," one shared.
For a lot of people, this seemed like Will was attempting a shot at redemption after he found himself in hot water for slapping the comedian two years ago. "Will Smith tryna repent for slapping Chris Rock last year," one person wrote on X. But some fans felt that it was unnecessary, saying they never turned their back on the movie star.
"Will Smith didn’t even need to make a gospel song. Baby, we was never mad at you & you don’t need to ask for anyones forgiveness," one of his fans wrote. "And you should smack him again. You should smack a lot of people."
"Such a beautiful song. I’m glad Will Smith was inspired to write a song about never giving up and redemption after the way so many switched up on him after he slapped the taste out of Chris Rock’s mouth," another shared. "I know he peeped cause I know I did."
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