Will Smith is officially back in the music game. The West Philadelphia native dropped Based on a True Story on March 28, marking his first album release in two decades, following Lost and Found in 2005. And let’s just say, he’s coming in hot. The album doesn’t hold back, diving into some of the biggest events of Smith’s life, including the infamous Oscars slap of Chris Rock in 2022 and the ongoing media frenzy surrounding his marriage to Jada Pinkett-Smith.
One of the standout tracks, “You Lookin’ For Me?”, takes on the tough subjects head-on. Smith addresses the Oscars slap directly, rapping, “Took a lot, I’m back on top, y’all gon’ have to get acclimated / Won’t stop, my s–t’s still hot even though I won’t get nominated / Personal life with my wife, mind your business, it’s complicated.” It’s a raw and unapologetic reflection of where he’s been and how he’s moved forward.
The album kicks off with the track “Int. Barbershop — Day,” a conversation between a group of people talking about the ups and downs of Smith’s career. One person brings up the Oscars controversy: “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.” Another person drops a reference to the slap itself: “Him and Jada both crazy, girl, what you talkin’ bout / You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.”
This conversation, and others like it throughout the album, capture the public’s reaction to Smith’s temporary fall from grace after slapping Rock on stage during the 2022 Oscars. The incident, sparked by a joke about Jada’s shaved head, resulted in Smith receiving a 10-year ban from the Academy. Despite the controversy, Smith has expressed regret for his actions and apologized to Rock. He’s also taken time to reflect on his journey, telling the Associated Press earlier this week that he’s “looking to be the best human I can possibly be,” accepting the consequences that come with his actions.
Ahead of the album release, Smith also revealed that he reached out to rap legends Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar for advice on how to re-enter the rap scene. It’s clear he’s been putting a lot of thought into how to approach his return to music, and based on this album, he’s come out swinging.
Based on a True Story is a mix of introspective tracks and bangers, showing Smith’s full range as an artist. As he reflects on both his personal and professional life, Smith proves that, while the journey hasn’t been easy, he’s back—and ready to take on whatever comes next.