Will Smith is stepping back into the spotlight in a big way—this time with music. After nearly 20 years away from the charts, the actor and rapper is making his highly anticipated return with Based on a True Story, his first album since 2005’s Lost and Found, dropping on March 28. And according to Will, this album is just the beginning of something huge.
In a heartfelt Instagram video, he reflected on his journey:
“The past couple of years, I’ve been deeply exploring who I really am. This album is allowing me to be more honest with myself than ever before. This is about to be the greatest artistic creative period of my entire life.”
The album features hit singles like First Love, Beautiful Scars, TANTRUM, Work of Art, and You Can Make It, along with collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, and Jac Ross.
Will also revealed that music became his outlet following the infamous 2022 Oscars moment when he slapped Chris Rock before winning Best Actor for King Richard. In an interview with Billboard, he explained how the experience sparked a deep creative shift:
“A well opened up inside of me—of art, pain, and things I didn’t even know were there. After the Oscars, that spiritual investigation continued, and a whole world inside me woke up. Dreams, visions—parts of me I had no awareness of before.”
He described this album as a reflection of that journey, blending personal growth with the joy and energy he remembers from his childhood days in church.
But there’s even more to come—Will teased that Based on a True Story is just the first of a three-part album series, comparing it to “three seasons of a TV musical show.”
With new music, a fresh perspective, and a creative fire like never before, Will Smith is proving that his best work may still be ahead. Are you ready for his comeback?