The Fresh Prince is back, and this time, he¡¯s got a mic in hand. Will Smith is making waves in the music scene with his new album, Based on a True Story, and he¡¯s not holding back. The album opens with Int. Barbershop ¡ª Day, setting the tone with the line: ¡®Will Smith is cancelled.¡¯ From the start, Smith directly confronts the fallout from the 2022 Oscars incident, making it clear he¡¯s ready to take control of the narrative.
It¡¯s been almost two decades since Will last dropped a solo project, but he¡¯s back in the game.?
According to Variety, Based on a True Story blends old-school vibes with fresh beats, featuring collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff and B Simone. The album is raw, introspective, and full of self-reflection, giving fans a front-row seat to his highs, lows, and everything in between.?
If you thought he¡¯d dodge the drama, think again. Throughout the album, Smith weaves in references to the infamous 2022 Oscars moment, with voices in interludes saying things like, ¡®Who the fk does Will Smith think he is?¡¯ and ¡®I ain¡¯t ever going to forgive him for that st he did.¡¯?
One of the most talked-about lines? ¡®I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back/ And you know they only made him do that s**t because he¡¯s Black.¡¯ While Smith didn¡¯t actually have to return his Oscar, he was banned from Academy events for 10 years.?
In case you somehow missed it, back in 2022, Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith¡¯s shaved head, saying, ¡®Jada, can¡¯t wait for G.I. Jane 2.¡¯ The joke didn¡¯t land well, as Jada has alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss.?
Smith wasn¡¯t having it. He walked on stage, slapped Rock, then sat back down and yelled: ¡®Keep my wife¡¯s name out of your f**king mouth!¡¯ Even though he won Best Actor for King Richard later that night, the fallout was massive, and the actor had to resign from the Academy and received a 10-year ban from all Oscar-related events. Smith has apologised multiple times since, but this album makes it clear he still has plenty to say.?
Despite the drama, Will is keeping up the momentum. He¡¯s set to star in Bad Boys 5, the next instalment of Bad Boys, with Martin Lawrence reprising his role. He¡¯s also working on I Am Legend 2, a continuation of the popular sci-fi thriller alongside Michael B. Jordan. The 56-year-old is also rumoured to be returning for a sequel to Aladdin, reprising his role as the Genie.?
So, whether this album is a power move or just damage control, one thing¡¯s clear: Will Smith is making sure his side of the story gets heard. Love it? Hate it? Either way, people are still listening.