Current:Home > InvestWill Smith resurges rap career with new single 'Work of Art' -Thrive Capital Insights
Will Smith resurges rap career with new single 'Work of Art'
Oliver James Montgomery View
Date:2025-04-10 23:01:32
The Fresh Prince is officially back in the rap game.
Will Smith released the debut single "Work of Art" off of his upcoming album Friday along with its music video. The track features Smith's son Jaden and singer Russ on the vocals with the Grammy-winning rapper reflecting on the different aspects of his personality.
"I am Musa, I am Jesus / I am Judas, I am the judge / I am the victim, and I'm the shooter / I'm in the Torah, and the Koran, and in the Bible / I am a shepherd / I am a leader, and a disciple," Smith, 55, smoothly raps.
He also alludes to his struggle in the public eye after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
"They tried to censor me / But then they sent for me," he raps in one section, adding in the chorus, "I am a saint, but if you touch, I am a savage."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Will Smith returns to musicwith uplifting BET Awards 2024 performance of 'You Can Make It'
Throughout the music video, Smith reveals to Russ that he recorded over 20 songs for his upcoming project. "'Work of Art' was the song where I found my voice. It was like 'Ah! That’s what I want to talk about,'" he says as the two become part of a museum display.
Smith has been teasing his return to music in the past few months with an appearance during J. Balvin's Coachella set in April, followed by the first live performance of his song "You Can Make It" at the BET Awards in June and a surprise appearance at La Velada Del Año 4 earlier this month.
Teasing his fifth album, the "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" star wrote on Instagram on July 12, "The Theme of the music I’ve been working on is 'Dance in your Darkest Moments.' 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."
The actor's most recent studio album was “Lost and Found,” released in 2005. The album sold a half-million copies and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Contributing: Edward Segarra, KiMi Robinson
veryGood! (1447)
Related
- USA men's volleyball mourns chance at gold after losing 5-set thriller, will go for bronze
- Judge in Trump's 2020 election case pauses proceedings amid dispute over immunity
- Jonathan Majors' text messages, audio recordings to ex-girlfriend unsealed in assault trial: Reports
- Watch: Rare blonde raccoon a repeat visitor to Iowa backyard, owner names him Blondie
- Kansas City Chiefs CEO's Daughter Ava Hunt Hospitalized After Falling Down a Mountain
- Updating the 'message in a bottle' to aliens: Do we need a new Golden Record?
- What I Learned About Clean Energy in Denmark
- The European Union is sorely tested to keep its promises to Ukraine intact
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Bachelor Nation's Shawn Booth Welcomes First Baby With Dre Joseph
Ranking
- RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law
- Changes to Georgia school accountability could mean no more A-to-F grades for schools and districts
- Finland, NATO’s newest member, will sign a defense pact with the United States
- The 'physics' behind potential interest rate cuts
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- NFL isn't concerned by stars' continued officiating criticisms – but maybe it should be
- The last residents of a coastal Mexican town destroyed by climate change
- Madonna kicks off Celebration tour with spectacle and sex: 'It’s a miracle that I’m alive'
Recommendation
Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
Man charged with murder of Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll
Carbon monoxide leak suspected of killing Washington state college student
Preparations to deploy Kenyan police to Haiti ramp up, despite legal hurdles
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear ready to campaign for Harris-Walz after losing out for spot on the ticket
Who are the Von Erich brothers? What to know about 'The Iron Claw's devastating subject
The Shohei Ohani effect: Jersey sales, ticket prices soar after signing coveted free agent
Dwayne Johnson to star in Mark Kerr biopic from 'Uncut Gems' director Benny Safdie