More than two decades after releasing their last collaborative album as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, the legendary hip-hop duo continues to “Get Lit” with their new dance-centric single.
While performing at Livewire Festival in Blackpool, England on Sunday (Aug. 27), Will Smith and his longtime collaborator debuted the new track, which features an electronic instrumental and a teaser of things to come. “My people,” raps the Fresh Prince. “Good before evil / Big Will the sequel ’bout to get lit.”
Smith introduced the song by explaining its mission. “I wanted to make a song that allowed people to let their light shine,” he said (via Just Jared). “We all have an inner light and sometimes this world… people can say stuff to you and tell you you can’t do and you know you can but when they tell you that it kinda knocks you down a bit right so I wanted to make a record that reminded each and every one of y’all to let your light shine.”
Smith’s mention of a Big Will sequel could be a reference to his 1997 solo debut album, Big Willie Style. However, it could also be a nod to a new album from the dynamic duo who broke onto the scene with 1987’s Rock the House. Their final album together was 1993’s Code Red. In 1998, the former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” cast members also reunited for a Greatest Hitscompilation, which included previously-unreleased material.
In 2015, Smith talked about dropping new music after premiering the Latin dance-flavored “Fiesta.” “I’m pretty much poppin’ in the studio everyday and I’m looking for artists to collaborate with,” he said at the time. “I’ve probably recorded 30 songs. I have six or seven that I really like.”
At the time, he also revealed that he had no plans of hanging up the mic, even though he hasn’t released a solo album since 2005’s Lost & Found. “I’m definitely interested in pushing the envelope of spitting,” he said. “How far can you go? I’ma keep giving it a shot up until I’m 70 or 80 years old.”
Source: Rap-Up