Will Smith Signs New Record Deal—Marking His Music Return After BET Performance
Topline
Will Smith signed to new music label Slang, coming off a BET Awards performance in June—which thrust him back into the spotlight after the 2020 Oscar slap.
Will Smith signs new record deal with Slang (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Key Facts
Will Smith has signed with Slang, a new label from company Influence Media Partners founded by musician Rene McLean.
The signing comes off Smith’s musical return at the BET Awards, where he performed gospel song “You Can Make It,” released in partnership with Slang and Tribl Records.
Smith took a break from the spotlight after receiving a ban from the Academy Awards for slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022.
In addition to Smith, Slang has recently brought on artists Big Sean, Mary J. Blige, Cardi B, and Roddy Ricch to its roster.
When Did Smith’s Music Career Begin?
Will Smith has made a name for himself both in acting and music. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star began his music career as part of hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince in the 1980s. After starring in “Bad Boys,” “Independence Day,” and “Men in Black,” Smith debuted his first solo album, “Big Willie Style,” which became one of the best selling records of all time.
Key Background
Smith was generally seen as having a good reputation before the incident at the 2022 Oscars. Before winning the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard,” Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock in response to a joke referencing his wife’s alopecia. The incident led Smith to take a break from the spotlight, with projects he was involved in, such as Netflix’s “Fast and Lose” postponed during that period. He has since apologized to both Chris Rock and the Academy, which banned the star from attending the awards for 10 years.
Big Number
$44.5 million. That’s how much Smith earned in 2020, making him one of Forbes’ highest-paid celebrities that year.
Sofia Chierchio is an editorial intern from New York on the SportsMoney team at Forbes. She is currently a senior at Cornell University studying communications, and is a staff writer for the Cornell Daily Sun and head manager of the university’s sprint football team.
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