“Will Smith is canceled…”at least that’s what the first line of his new album declares.
“Based on a True Story” is the latest release of the rapper turned actor who returns to a full record status after 20 years. Smith, also known as The Fresh Prince, announced this album in July 2024 after a massive amount of speculation from the music community.
The album’s lead single is titled “Beautiful Scars” and features rapper Big Sean. In the song, Smith references his admission that he turned down the starring role of Neo in the 1999 sci-fi film “The Matrix” – a story he told in full on his own YouTube channel.
This marks Smith’s first project since his infamous slapping of comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars over a joke aimed at Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett that cost the actor a ten year ban from the awards show. Since then, Smith has been somewhat silent. Although, he occasionally made public appearances including performing at the 2024 BET Awards.
The Most Personal Release Yet
The 14 track “Based on a True Story” is as intimate as Smith has alluded to previously.
The first track – “Int. Barbershop Day” – takes place where the name suggests, as Smith takes on life as one of the characters questioning why the multi-hyphenate thinks he’s so special. Each voice in the song gives the pluses and minuses as to why Smith should be praised or scolded.
A couple of verses allude to the Oscar moment: “I heard he down bad I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back,” one character states.
“And you know they only made him do that shit because he’s black,” responds another.
Production isn’t completely handled by Smith’s longtime collaborator, DJ Jazzy Jeff, rather a slew of various producers including rapper Joyner Lucas and Kyle Townsend.
Another line from the second track, “You Lookin’ For Me?,” includes Smith mentioning his relationship with his wife, Pinkett-Smith: “Personal life with my wife, mind your business, it’s complicated // All that matters is the fact that I’m still getting compensated.”
A few of the songs are delivered with the same bravado expected of Smith, a boom-bap of exhilaration. Meanwhile, the last half of the album takes an even more inward look at who the rapper is aiming to be personally.
Most of the songs take on similar tones of redemption. Sounds of organ pipes ring throughout the backing tracks. Gospel is an inspiration as Smith references religion often and even features vocals from Sunday Service Choir.
Authenticity Is the Brand
While the album clocks in at a brisk 37 minutes, Smith hopes the work will spark more creativity.
In an interview with Associated Press, Smith says the album is something that was driven from within.
“These last couple of years, I’ve been going really interior,” he tells the outlet.
“I’ve been looking around inside [of myself] in a way that I never have before,” Smith continues. “I found a new creative well…of [a] really deep, authentic, sometimes scary place inside of me of the most full me.”
Stream “Based on a True Story” wherever you get your music.
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Will Smith Gets Real About the Oscars Slap, His Marriage in New Album