Will Smith has experienced a resurgence in 2024, adding another successful installment to the Bad Boys franchise. But very recently, Smith has also returned to his first love, revisiting his faith with an inspirational new record.
Will Smith connects to fans with ‘You Can Make It’
Fresh off the success of Bad Boys Ride or Die, Smith debuted “You Can Make It” off his YouTube channel Will Smith. He took the surprising track to another level by performing it live at the BET Awards, emerging on stage in a ring of fire.
As the song continues, the fire surrounding Smith is symbolically extinguished by the rain that follows. He’s joined by famous Gospel singer Kirk Franklin and the Sunday Service Choir to bring the song’s message home.
Smith’s song is both personal and relatable. On social media, the Independence Day star confided that returning to music provided a sense of comfort for him. And he hoped his new record would be able to support anyone else in a time of need the same way.
“Through some of my darkest moments, music has always been there for me—to lift me and help me grow,” he posted. “It’s my humble wish that it can do the same for you and bring you all the joy and light you deserve.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Smith. Since his career started as the rap artist The Fresh Prince, it seems fitting that hip-hop would help facilitate his revival.
The actor’s reputation took a bit of a hit in retaliation for slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Smith laid low for a couple of years afterward, which left some wondering if his career would end up in permanent remission. But after some much-needed soul searching, Smith seems to be in the midst of a comeback for the ages.
Will Smith explores his faith in ‘You Can Make It’
The song references many ties to traditional religion. It touches on questioning your faith in the face of extreme adversity, and the rewards that might come with perseverance.
“Trying to heal, but the battles of healing, if God is for real you’ll just wonder if he’ll listen,” Smith rapped in his song.
Smith, however, has stated in the past that he doesn’t tie himself specifically down to one religion. According to a 2007 press junket, he’s willing to consider the beliefs of all kinds of faiths. Including Scientology, which Tom Cruise initially taught him about.
“As far as Scientology. I don’t necessarily believe in organized religion,” Smith said. “Tom introduced me to the ideas. I’m a student of world religion, so to me, it’s hugely important to have knowledge and to understand what people are doing. What are all the big ideas? What are people talking about? I believe that my connection, to my higher power, is separate from everybody’s.”
Smith further asserted that there are some elements of religion he does believe in.
“You can’t get where I get if you don’t love the Lord,” Smith once said in an interview on Official Devon Franklin. “You don’t get to sit how I sit and move how I move if you don’t love the lord. You’d be seeing a whole lot of other repercussions.”
But overall, Smith felt that there are things in the universe that people might not be meant to know. Which was an idea that everyone could share.
“All right, lets call everything beyond what we know, let’s call it the unknown,” he added. “Let’s call it the higher power, let’s call it the X-Factor, let’s call it God, let’s call it Allah. Let’s just agree that there is something beyond what we know. Things happen that we can’t control, and things happen in interesting ways that actually have patterns to them. There are things like karma. There are things that are mysteries that seem to have human qualities that are beyond what we understand.”
