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Smith’s road to redemption grew tougher when Rock’s comedy special reignited the controversy and his wifeput their marriage under fresh scrutiny, sparking headlines and endless social media memes.

Smith said the adversity not only tested him but fueled his creativity.“There’s a certain psychological and emotional fortitude that you cultivate from, leaning into the difficulty, not trying to run away,” said Smith, who added he sought to build “spiritual confidence” inspired by the resilience of his late grandmother and Nelson Mandela. Along the way, he found Tibetan Buddhist Pema Chödrön’s teachings, embracing her mantra of “leaning into the sharp points.”These influences became pillars as Smith explored himself more deeply. The way his grandmother, Mandela and Chödrön approached life pushed him to channel his journey back into music.

“It is essentially learning how to accept and celebrate my challenges, recognizing that my challenges and my obstacles and my difficulties are actually divine curriculum,” said Smith, a four-time Grammy winner, who is known for rap classics such as “Those tracks had a laid-back feel, but his new album strikes a more serious tone.

“It’s what I’ve been given to learn the truth,” he continued. “There’s a way that I’m learning to be with hard times when things arise. It’s like ‘Good, yes, thank you.’ I’m willing to learn these lessons.”

Believe it or not, Smith is set to embark on his first-ever headline tour this summer.The sun sets in the horizon as Ned Ahgupuk and his girlfriend, Kelsi Rock, piggybacking their 1-year-old son, Steven, stroll along the beach on the Arctic Ocean in Shishmaref, Alaska, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The sun sets in the horizon as Ned Ahgupuk and his girlfriend, Kelsi Rock, piggybacking their 1-year-old son, Steven, stroll along the beach on the Arctic Ocean in Shishmaref, Alaska, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Boats used for seal hunting are kept in the lagoon side of Shishmaref, Alaska, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Boats used for seal hunting are kept in the lagoon side of Shishmaref, Alaska, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Bering Air agent Denis Sinnok shuts the door of a Cessna plane at the air strip after unloading the dozens of boxes of Eggo waffles and other goods in Shishmaref, Alaska, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)