Last year, during CBS’ A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop special, Will Smith, well-known for his acting and rap career, confessed to the legendary Rakim that he attempted to emulate the rapper’s style in his 1991 hit “Summertime.” Smith explained, “I couldn’t get my ‘happy-go-lucky’ high voice. And [the producer] just said, ‘Yo, just gimme that Rakim shit.'”
This admission, recently re-shared on Smith’s Instagram to mark the 33rd anniversary of his album Homebase with DJ Jazzy Jeff, prompted Rakim to respond: “Peace Will !! Keep rockin bro, it’s time for SUMMERTIME PT 2 wit me on it !!!! lol.”
The connection between Rakim and “Summertime” has been the subject of urban legend, with rumors suggesting Rakim wrote the song for Smith. In a 2016 interview with HipHopDX, Rakim debunked these claims, explaining that while he and Eric B. had sampled the same Kool & The Gang track, they ultimately decided against using it.
Both artists are poised for comebacks. Rakim is set to release God’s Network: Reb7rth on July 26, his first album in 15 years, featuring collaborations with hip-hop icons like Snoop Dogg and Method Man. Meanwhile, Smith is preparing his first full-length album in nearly a decade, recently performing the single “You Can Make It” at the 2024 BET Awards.