Will Smith warned us. In a recent interview, the rapper said his upcoming album will be his most serious and personal yet. The highly anticipated single “Work of Art” featuring Russ and Jaden fits the bill. It sees three artists reflecting on personal demons and frustrations. But crucially, it concludes that, as the title suggests, everyone is an imperfect work of art. Tacky? certainly. But what else can we really expect from Will Smith? Sonically, “Artwork” is much bolder than its subject.
The work is moody and contemplative. The harmonies add to the dramatic intensity of the song to a great extent. Smith begins the song with a rhyme scheme that emphasizes the conflicting aspects of his character. “I’m a Libra, but I think I’m cancer, I’m tongue, truth and lies, both at the same time,” he raps. “I am the sun, I am the rain, I am the wind.” Maintaining this scheme would have made the song difficult, but thankfully, things changed on the back end. Lars provides the impassioned verses, while Jaden lends his giddy false profundity to the chorus. It all comes together in a surprisingly effective way. Especially when the beat switches and Will Smith raps over a drum pattern that sounds very 2024. He succeeds and makes us sound hopeful for the upcoming album.
Let us know what you think of this brand new track in the comments section below. Also, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from the music industry. We will continue to update you on all your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Will Smith sounds good in modern production
My soul feels trapped, like I’m riding Bryson Tiller’s beats
On the road to inner peace
Walking on unfamiliar streets (Yeah)
trying to kill the beast
Just make it grow more
About the author
Elias is the music writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined the site in 2024 and covers a wide range of topics including pop culture, movies, sports, and, of course, hip-hop. You can find him publishing for HNHH from Monday to Friday, especially coverage of new albums and singles. His favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808 Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He likes L.A. hip-hop, but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he bought was Will Smith’s “Big Willie Style,” which he thinks still sounds great.
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