In a surprising twist in hip-hop news, Rakim is calling for a musical reunion with Will Smith after a heartfelt confession from the actor.
Recently, Will Smith opened up about his influences during a special TV event celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.
He confessed, “I was absolutely trying to sound like you on ‘Summertime,'” referencing his attempts to channel the iconic flow of Rakim while making the hit song.
This candid moment happened backstage during CBS’s A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop, highlighting the deep respect between the two artists.
In response to Smith’s post about the anniversary of his classic album, Rakim jumped into the comments saying, “Peace Will !! Keep rockin bro, it’s time for SUMMERTIME PT 2 wit me on it !!!! lol.”
His comment sparked excitement among fans, and many hoped to see the collaboration come to life, with one fan urging, “yesssss @willsmith & @djjazzyjeff please make this happen!!!”
It’s worth noting that Rakim has always been linked to ‘Summertime’ due to an urban legend suggesting he wrote it for Smith.
He cleared things up in a 2016 interview, explaining, “Nah, it was ironic that me and Eric B. had sampled it, and we had it ready to go.
When they came out with it, a lot of people thought it was me because of the style he used.”
Rakim also shared how the song’s beat, which sampled Kool & The Gang’s ‘Summer Madness,’ was softer than his usual style, making it a good fit for Smith.
Looking ahead, both Rakim and Smith are gearing up for exciting new releases this year.
Rakim’s first album in 15 years, titled Gods Network: Reb7rth, drops on July 26, featuring collaborations with big names like Snoop Dogg and Method Man.
Meanwhile, Will Smith is working on his first full-length album in nearly a decade, starting with the uplifting single ‘You Can Make It,’ which he premiered at the 2024 BET Awards.
While fans eagerly await news on a possible ‘Summertime’ sequel, the excitement surrounding these two legendary artists and their upcoming projects continues to grow.
