Will Smith announces first album since 2005, previewing pivot back to music
Will Smith is turning his tilt back to music into a full-on topple.
The "Pursuit of Happyness" actor announced a brand new album Thursday. "Based on a True Story," to be released in March, marks Smith's first full studio project since 2005's "Lost and Found."
Smith has been soft-launching his return for nearly a year, releasing several singles with high-profile collaborators. The album will include those tracks − "You Can Make it," "Work of Art" and "Tantrum" − made alongside rappers Russ and Joyner Lucas and Smith's son Jaden.
"You Can Make It," which features Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, hit No.1 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay Chart in June. The last time Smith held a No. 1 spot was in 1997 with "Gettin' Jiggy With It."
The Oscar-winner performed the new track at the 2024 BET Awards, one of a number of live performances and festivals that have also laid the groundwork for his pivot.
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In April, Smith joined J Balvin onstage to rap his Grammy-winning track "Men In Black" dressed as his character from the 1997 film. In May, arriving to the "Ride or Die" premiere in a double-decker bus with co-star Martin Lawrence, Smith gave a brief performance of his 1997 hit "Miami" as an ode to his character in the film: a Miami Police detective.
Smith then closed out the year with a series of concerts in San Diego at The Observatory North Park.
To complement the album announcement, Smith released "Beautiful Scars," a new single featuring hip-hop star Big Sean with an accompanying music video.
A lengthy, reflective track that chronicles either man's journey to self-understanding, "Beautiful Scars" layers rap verses over an auto-tune heavy chorus.
Sometimes bordering on the religious, Smith's rhymes are crisp and easily understood− an aberration from some of the mumble rap that has risen to prominence in recent years.
The album will likely follow suit, with a more narrative structure as Smith reenters the public consciousness not just as the Fresh Prince, or as the Oscar-winner whose slap spun Chris Rock (and the internet's) heads round, but as a bonafide musical artist.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
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