Will Smith is set to be a producer on a new feature film biography of the legendary hip-hop pioneer Queen Latifah.
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As confirmed by Deadline, the film will be one of a group of new biopics produced by Flavor Unit Entertainment, Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment that will focus on iconic stars of the genre.
Latifah herself will work as a producer on the film alongside Smith, and has shared her excitement about the project by saying, “We all came into this industry together and Hip-Hop has shaped each and every one of us.”
“Hip-hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall. It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”
Smith added: “When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special. I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favourite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”
It comes after Smith launched his podcast Class Of ‘88 last year, which explored the state of hip-hop in 1988 and included an episode that focused largely on Latifah. DJ Jazzy Jeff, Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, Salt-N-Pepa, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Fab Five Freddy, Rakim, and DJ Red Alert were also involved in the series.
Latifah was also among those awarded at the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors in December, alongside Dionne Warwick and the Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb.
Smith, meanwhile, has made his own return to music this year, signing a record deal with the independent label SLANG, and revealing that he has been working on his first album in nearly 20 years, ‘Dance In Your Darkest Moments’.
He also released the first single ‘You Can Make It’ in June, later performing that song at the BET Awards alongside the Sunday Service Choir, gospel icon Kirk Franklin and R&B singer Fridayy.
In August, ‘Work Of Art’ followed – a song that also features Russ and Smith’s son Jaden. Smith later said that track is the song where he “found” his voice.
In a video about the making of the track, Smith opened up about the 2022 Oscars slap that saw him receive a 10-year ban from the awards ceremony. “It was really the first time in my life since childhood that I got the shit kicked out of me,” Smith said. “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.”
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