Will Smith Addresses Oscars Slap in New ‘Fire in the Booth’ Freestyle

Will Smith has officially returned to the rap spotlight, using his latest appearance on Charlie Sloth’s ‘Fire in the Booth’ to address—without naming names—the 2022 Oscars slap that rocked Hollywood.

During his high-energy freestyle, Smith took clear aim at Chris Rock with pointed bars:

“If you talking crazy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, expect me on the stage,” he rapped. “Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it’s time to take it. City full of real ones, wasn’t raised to fake it.”

The veiled reference left little doubt about its target, though Chris Rock has not issued any public response.

Smith’s appearance comes on the heels of his new album, Based on a True Story—his first in nearly 20 years. The project dives into his personal struggles and public controversies, including the infamous Oscars moment, which is addressed on the opening track “Int. Barbershop – Day,” featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone.

Tensions between the two camps have simmered since the slap. In April, Chris Rock’s brother Tony Rock publicly slammed Smith’s album, dismissing it as “a piece of sh*t” despite admitting he hadn’t listened to it.

Smith’s return to music has been marked by sharp lyricism and self-reflection. On his recent “Lunch Break” freestyle with Lyrical Lemonade, he boasted about his longevity and resilience:

“Hip Hop’s Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo/ Goooal! Scored on these boys/ I’ve won damn near every award on these boys… They want me to be done with it, but I’m still havin’ fun with it.”

As the rap world reacts to his latest verses, one thing is clear: Will Smith is addressing his critics and controversies head-on, refusing to shy away from his past as he reclaims his space in hip-hop.