After a two-decade hiatus from music, Will Smith is making his long-awaited return to hip-hop with a new album, Based on a True Story, set to drop on March 28.
The Oscar-winning actor and rapper announced the news on Instagram, sharing his excitement with his 69.5 million followers. “It’s OFFICIAL!! My new album, Based on a True Story, drops on March 28. TWO WEEKS!! Hit that presave. Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all,” Smith wrote.
The 14-track album will reunite Smith with longtime collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff and feature guest appearances from Teyana Taylor and Jac Ross. In January, Smith gave fans a taste of his new sound with the release of “Beautiful Scars,” a single featuring Big Sean and Obangain.
Smith’s career began in the late 1980s as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, earning him early success with hits like “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Summertime.” His transition to television with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cemented his status as a household name, and his music often complemented his Hollywood projects—most notably with soundtrack singles for Men in Black and Wild Wild West. His last studio album, Lost and Found, was released in 2005 before he stepped away from music to focus on acting and producing.
Smith remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, but his public image took a hit after the infamous 2022 Oscars incident, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage. The fallout from the moment led to Smith being banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years.
Despite the controversy, Smith’s return to music signals a fresh chapter in his career. With Based on a True Story, he is looking to reclaim his space in hip-hop while embracing his evolution as an artist. Whether this marks a full-fledged comeback or a nostalgic one-time project, fans will find out soon enough when the album drops on March 28.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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