Fans of Will Smith were treated to a brilliant and electrifying performance on Oct. 3 at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to performing his popular hip hop hits including “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “Getting Jiggy With It,” and “Miami,” Smith revealed two new inspirational songs, “You Can Make It” and “Work of Art.”
Lecrae, a Christian rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor, moderated the Q&A session following Smith’s performance. Attendees were able to write down questions for Smith, which Lecrae posed to the film and TV star.
Noting that Smith’s music has been a great contributor to hip hop, Lecrae asked, “What keeps you excited as a creator in the industry for decades?” Smith replied, “The opportunity to learn and grow.”
Discussing his new song, “You Can Make It,” Smith said he recorded it The Sunday Service Choir.
“The song has spiritual themes. I made a song that resonates with the experience I had in church, but I wasn’t looking to make a gospel single,” said the artist.
Smith said of his writing process, “I was trying to find what I wanted to say. I’m just a well of authenticity, the most honest space within me.” He added that he wasn’t trying to make a hit, but instead desired to be authentic.
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“The song ‘You Can Make It’ was what was on my heart. Every single person is going through something. For me, the song is the most in tune thing you can say to someone,” noted Smith.
“It’s only by the grace of God that I would have to be in someone else’s shoes and have to make the decision an individual would have to make. I’m learning not to judge others,” he added.
Recalling another aspect of his music, Smith said, “I was 12 years old, and I had written rap songs in a composition book and my grandmother found the book. It was then my grandmother wrote me a letter telling me intelligent people don’t have to use profanity to express themselves,” said Smith. “It was then I made the decision not to use profanity in my music.”
In 1989, Smith won a Best Rap Performance Grammy for the hit with DJ Jazzy Jeff titled “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” Smith said that despite the award, he and other rappers boycotted the Grammys that year because the show did not broadcast the Rap category.
The musician and actor help bring rap to mainstream when he starred in NBC’s “Fresh Prince of Bell Air.” In 1992, Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a duo or group for the song, “Summertime.”
Six years later, Smith won another Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for “Men in Black.” Also, the “Summertime” video premiered on NBC after the “Fresh Prince of Bell Air” and Smith recalled, “This was unheard of at the time.”
Reflecting on his career, he said, “I never got the opportunity to hone my talent in music as my records usually were related to the movies I acted in. The last 20 years, I have been acting and now I am hoping to find my way as a rapper, and I want to be able to touch human hearts in the way I have been able to do in acting.”
One of Smith’s fans, Fercho Perez, remarked, “When I was 13 years old, I used to watch ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’ Will Smith saved my childhood when I was having troubles at home. Smith made me smile. I am a big fan.”
The evening closed at one of Smith’s most vulnerable moments as Smith shed tears reflecting on one of his songs he wrote when his first son, Trey, was born.
“It was one of the most terrifying moments knowing I would be responsible for another person,” Smith said. The song he wrote was “Just the Two of Us,” which was inspired by the song of the same name by Bill Withers.
As Smith gave a shout out to his son, Trey, he acknowledged that he didn’t always have the answer when it comes to raising his children.
“I am discovering that as I am working on myself, my children are gravitating towards me more,” Smith said.
To learn more about events at the Grammy Museum, call (213) 725-5700.
