Rapper-turned-blockbuster actor Will Smith has released a new single, “You Can Make It,” which is largely being ignored by its target audience. The song was intended to help rehabilitate his image after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022 for not keeping his wife’s name out of his mouth.
Not even fans in South America or Africa, where Smith is hugely popular for his films like the Bad Boys franchise, are streaming the song.
The track, about finding inner strength, as of July 15, is charting on Shazam, ranking #32 in Spain, #49 in Mexico, #54 in Chile, #81 in Costa Rica, #121 in Peru, #127 in Uruguay, and #198 in Argentina. On YouTube, the song reached #100 in Zimbabwe.
“You Can Make It,” released on June 28, entered at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart based on streaming, airplay, and sales, as well as the multimetric Hot Christian Songs tally at No. 23. In its first week, it earned 726,000 in radio audience, 665,000 official U.S. streams, and sold 1,000 copies through July 4, according to Luminate.
The song has garnered just over half a million Spotify plays since its release as of July 15.
Smith is one of the highest-selling rappers of all time. His debut solo album, Big Willie Style, was released on November 25, 1997, via Columbia Records and is certified 9x Platinum in the U.S. for sales exceeding 9 million. The album was last certified in 1999 and should now be eligible for Diamond certification. It is currently the 12th highest-selling rap album of all time in the U.S.
With that as his rap legacy, along with being the first rapper to win a Grammy Award, the new song debuted at the BET Awards, marking his first appearance on an awards stage since the Oscars incident. The performance, which included a dramatic setup with a circle of fire, aimed to inspire the audience with messages of perseverance and resilience but came off more like a Hollywood ritual rather than an appeal to his fun-loving side, which people have become accustomed to.
Critics have pointed out that the song oscillates between self-improvement clichés and a victim narrative, reflecting a commercial blend rather than genuine personal growth.
The Guardian highlighted Smith’s methodical approach to his comeback, starting with the successful release of “Bad Boys 4,” which incorporated a self-referential slap scene.
While the song’s success as a musical piece remains uncertain, Smith’s financial and cinematic ventures continue to thrive, suggesting his overall star power remains intact.
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the action-comedy series starring Smith and Martin Lawrence, will be available for digital streaming via premium video on demand (PVOD) starting July 23, though the date is subject to change according to Sony Pictures Entertainment. The film, which was released in theaters on June 7, marks a significant comeback for Smith following his controversy at the 2022 Oscars. The movie has earned $377.9 million globally, with a production budget of $100 million. It received a 64% “fresh” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% audience score. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the film follows Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett as they attempt to clear the name of their late commander, Lt. Conrad Howard.
