Will Smith discusses finding his voice on new single with Russ and son Jaden

Will Smith has teamed up with Russ and his son Jaden for his latest single, and in a new 7-minute clip, he opens up about the creative process behind the song. 

Smith revealed that "Work of Art" was a pivotal track for him.

“‘Work of Art’ was the song where I found my voice,” he told Russ. 

“That’s how I wanna sound, that’s what I wanna talk about. I had recorded probably 20 tracks before that and there was the old constellation of ideas of who I thought I needed to be that was coming through in the music.”

Smith also touched on what inspired this new voice and sound.

Reflecting on the media backlash after his infamous Oscars slap, he said, “It was really the first time in my life since childhood that I got the shit kicked out of me. You know, I had a run of the gods. It’s like, it was really the first time experiencing what it’s like to get stomped.”

The lead single from Smith's upcoming project, tentatively titled "Dance in Your Darkest Moments," made its debut at the BET Awards. 

Last week, Smith announced that his first album since 2005’s "Lost and Found" is finished. 

Speaking with Black Film Allies, Smith emphasized that this will be his most personal project yet. 

“Over the past year and a half, I’ve been in the studio,” he shared. 

“I have a project that is the most personal and powerful music project I’ve ever done. The idea of the music is, ‘Dance in your darkest moments.’”