Will Smith Gets Shocking Request From Rakim Amid New Record Deal

Will Smith got an incredible offer from one of his inspirations Rakim as the seasoned rapper prepares to make a full comeback to the music industry.

On Tuesday, July 23, the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star took to Instagram to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of his and DJ Jazzy Jeff's fourth studio album Homebase . He uploaded a scene from CBS’ "A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop," in which he admits to Rakim that he tried to sound like him on the album's smash hit "Summertime."

“I was absolutely trying to sound like you on ‘Summertime,'” he told Rakim.

“‘Cause I had been screaming all night, and I couldn’t get my ‘happy-go-lucky’ high voice," he continued. "And [his producer] Hula just said, ‘Yo, just gimme that Rakim s**t.' And I was like 'Here it is.'"

Rakim was rocking with the memory and hopped into the comment section with an eye-popping request. He suggested that both of them should join forces for a fresh version of "Summertime."

“Peace Will !! Keep rockin bro, it’s time for SUMMERTIME PT 2 wit me on it !!!! lol," he wrote.

The veteran rapper's suggestion came right before Smith announced his plans to release new music. According to The Hollywood Reporter , the Philly native has signed a new deal with independent label SLANG led by music executive Rene McLean. Smith will join a roster of esteemed producers like Camper and 30 Roc as well as rising artists like rapper-singer Leaf, New York rap duo The Underachievers, songwriter-producer Isaia Huron, and Atlanta rappers Truththebull and RY XP.

Will Smith made his comeback to music this year by dropping his collaboration with Sean Paul on the soundtrack for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and his latest single "You Can Make It" with Fridayy & the Sunday Service Choir. He performed it for the first time at the BET Awards 2024 with special guest Kirk Franklin . Before the news about his deal broke, Smith revealed the backstory behind his upcoming song with Russ, "Work of Art."

"WORK OF ART was the song where I found my new voice," Smith wrote in the caption . "It’s how I want to sound and what I want to talk about. Before that, I had recorded about 20 tracks — a constellation of ideas of how I thought I needed to be. But ‘Work of Art’ brought clarity—it revealed the fullness of who and what and how I truly am."

Look out for Will Smith's new song arriving this Friday. Check out a preview below.