Will (Joyner Lucas song)
{{short description|2020 single by Joyner Lucas}}
{{Infobox single
| name = Will
| cover = Joyner Lucas and Will Smith - Will.png
| alt =
| caption = Remix cover
| type = single
| artist = Joyner Lucas
| album = ADHD
| released = March 25, 2020
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 3:21
| label = Twenty Nine
| writer = {{hlist|Gary Lucas, Jr.|Kevin Lingham}}
| producer = Crank Lucas
| prev_title = Lotto
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = DOA
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|KlJd_bI7DVo|"Will"}}}}
}}
"Will" is a song by American rapper Joyner Lucas, and the ninth single from his debut studio album ADHD (2020). It was released on March 25, 2020 with an accompanying music video. The song is a tribute to actor and rapper Will Smith, one of Lucas's biggest influences.{{Cite web|last=Powell|first=Jon|date=2020-03-25|title=Joyner Lucas channels "Will" in new music video|url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2020/3/25/21194138/joyner-lucas-will-video|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Revolt}} On May 15, 2020, a remix of the song with a guest appearance from Smith was released.
Composition
In the song, Lucas raps about his great admiration for and influence from Will Smith's success throughout his career.{{Cite web|title=The social experiment 'ADHD' is a noteworthy debut for Joyner Lucas|url=https://www.miamistudent.net/article/2020/04/joyner-lucas-album-review|access-date=2020-08-11|website=The Miami Student}}{{better source needed|date=August 2020}} Lucas references ten of Smith's most renowned works in his filmography, most notably The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Furthermore, he states that he hopes his son will one day become successful as Smith's children Willow and Jaden are, and also raps about the importance of paying homage to icons while they are still alive.{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Joseph|date=26 March 2020|title=Joyner Lucas Didn't Expect Will Smith to Respond to His New Song "Will"|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/will-smith-joyner-lucas|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Distractify}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Joyner Lucas and Ben Proulx, and shows Lucas dressing as the iconic characters played by Will Smith in the films he mentions in the song,{{Cite web|title=Joyner Lucas Serves up Big Willie Style in Visual for "Will"|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/3/joyner-lucas-will-music-video|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Hypebeast|date=26 March 2020 }} and parodies the movie scenes,{{Cite web|last=Ketchum III|first=William E.|date=2020-03-26|title=Will Smith Praises Joyner Lucas For "Will" Music Video|url=https://www.vibe.com/2020/03/will-smith-praises-joyner-lucas|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Vibe}} shapeshifting from one to another.{{Cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=2020-03-26|title=Joyner Lucas Transforms Into The Fresh Prince and a Bad Boy in 'Will' Tribute Video|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9343485/joyner-lucas-will-tribute-video|access-date=2020-08-11|magazine=Billboard}} The ending of the visual features an audio clip of a quote by Will Smith. As of April 2021 the video has over 40 Million Views.
= Response =
Will Smith responded on Instagram, saying that he was "humbled and honored",{{Cite web|last=Moorwood|first=Victoria|date=2020-03-26|title=Will Smith co-signs Joyner Lucas' "Will" video|url=https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/3/26/21195297/will-smith-joyner-lucas-will-video|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Revolt}} and that he hoped to meet Lucas one day.{{Cite web|last=Bonner|first=Michael|date=2020-03-26|title=Will Smith shouts out Joyner Lucas after rapper releases 'Will'|url=https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2020/03/will-smith-praises-worcesters-joyner-lucas-for-tribute-song-to-actors-career-i-love-what-youve-done.html|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Masslive}} In April 2020, Smith hosted Lucas on his YouTube channel to thank him.{{Cite magazine|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|date=2020-04-08|title=Will Smith Can't Stop Watching Joyner Lucas' 'Will' Video: 'This Will Be My Ninth Time'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9354405/will-smith-joyner-lucas-snapchat-video|access-date=2020-08-11|magazine=Billboard}} Lucas called Smith his idol, and said that he grew up watching his movies and listening to his music.{{Cite web|last=Price|first=Joe|date=|title=People Are Loving Will Smith's Remix of Joyner Lucas' "Will"|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/05/will-smith-joyner-lucas-remix-will-reactions|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Complex}}
Remix
The official remix of the song has guest vocals from Will Smith, and was released on May 15, 2020. On his verse, Smith again thanks Lucas and discusses his inspirations as well.{{Cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=2020-05-15|title=What's Better Than Joyner Lucas' 'Will?' A Remix With the Fresh Prince Himself|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9378533/joyner-lucas-will-smith-remix|access-date=2020-08-11|magazine=Billboard}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance of "Will" ! scope="col"| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 25 May 2020|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1577|date=May 25, 2020}}
| 65 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|92|artist=Joyner Lucas|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 30, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland4|72|date=20200403|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 3, 2020}} |
| scope="row" |New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|date=April 6, 2020|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2020-04-03|access-date=April 6, 2020|publisher=Recorded Music NZ}}
|11 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardbubbling100|2|artist=Joyner Lucas|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|48|artist=Joyner Lucas|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 11, 2020}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Joyner Lucas}}
{{Will Smith}}