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Forbes
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Will Smith's Comeback Album Fails To Make Any Commercial Impact
Will Smith has been on a long and quiet journey back into the public eye since his infamous altercation with Chris Rock at the Academy Awards several years ago. After keeping a relatively low profile in the aftermath of that moment, he's been slowly re-engaging with audiences, and he recently stepped back into his first love, music. For Smith, hip-hop isn't just the genre that made him famous, it also may be the key to a redemption arc – or at least that's what he was hoping. Unfortunately, that plan isn't panning out quite the way he might have anticipated. Smith's new album Based on a True Story is his first in two decades, but it makes virtually no commercial impact. Despite months of buzz and big name collaborations, the album just didn't hit with the American public in any meaningful way. Based on a True Story ix Smith's first album since 2005's Lost and Found. The project was promoted with a steady stream of singles and features from major names in the music industry, including Big Sean, Joyner Lucas, and his own son Jaden. The Grammy winner tried to push the project properly, but even anticipation and what seemed like a fair amount of media coverage – at least in the music-focused press – couldn't move the needle. The full-length doesn't make it onto a single Billboard ranking this week. Not the Billboard 200, not the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, not any genre-specific or consumption-specific tallies. For an artist of Smith's stature, that's a harsh result. He's still a household name, and with so much attention focused on the release, it felt like it could become at least a minor win. It didn't. Throughout his music career, Smith has only released four prior solo albums. All of them made it onto the Billboard 200, and three even cracked the top 10. His 2002 effort Born to Reign stalled just outside that space, peaking at No. 13. A few years earlier, Willennium soared to No. 5 – his all-time peak – driven by hit singles and the momentum of his acting career. Now, for the first time, he's released an album that doesn't make it to the all-genre tally. Based on a True Story also fails to send a single cut to the Hot 100. That's especially disappointing given the roster of collaborators featured on the set. Smith was never the biggest star on the Hot 100, but he has earned multiple top 10s and even a few No. 1s throughout his career. This time around, not one of the several official singles gained enough traction to appear on the tally. Even though the album itself doesn't chart, a few of the tracks from Based on a True Story do manage to land somewhere. Three cuts from the set make a home on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart, a tally that Smith was previously largely unfamiliar with. Two brand new tunes — 'The Reverend (Rave Sermon)' and 'Rave in the Wasteland ' —debut at Nos. 8 and 22, respectively. At the same time, 'You Can Make It,' a collaboration with Fridayy and Sunday Service, reappears at No. 18. Smith claims a trio of the most-consumed gospel tracks in the country this week, which is a curious outcome for an effort largely pitched as a hip-hop project.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Smith addresses Chris Rock Oscars slap in new album 'Based on a True Story'
Will Smith is back in his music bag, releasing his first full-length album in two decades. "Based on a True Story" features 14 tracks, with appearances by Teyana Taylor, DJ Jazzy Jeff and comedian/social media personality B. Simone. The latter two appear on the intro track, "Int. Barbershop - Day." In a video Smith shared on Thursday teasing the new project, he states that the "process for this album is really allowing myself to be more honest with myself than I ever have about who and what I actually am." Will Smith and Tatyana Ali recreate iconic 'Fresh Prince' dance scene amid album announcement "This is about to be the greatest artistic, creative period of my entire life," he adds. Among the topics mentioned on Smith's new album is his first Oscar win in 2022 and the now-infamous incident in which he slapped Chris Rock during that awards ceremony, leading to his 10-year ban from the event and rumors the award would be rescinded. In the end, Smith was not asked to return the award. Following the Oscars slap, Smith apologized to Rock in a video shared on social media. Nearly a year after the incident, Rock addressed the slap in his Netflix special, "Selective Outrage." "I'm going to try to do a show tonight without offending nobody. I'm going to try my best, because you never know who might get triggered," he said at the time. "People always say words hurt. Anybody who says words hurt has never been punched in the face." In "Int. Barbershop - Day," Smith plays different voices in a barbershop inspired by Eddie Murphy's barbershop scene from "Coming To America." In a video shared Friday on Instagram, Smith says he wanted to capture the "barbershop vibe of people talking about me." Will Smith addresses Oscars slap, apologizes to Chris Rock in new video "Just all the stuff that I heard," he says. "It was fun to play all of the different characters and be my own hater." In the track itself, Smith raps, "I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back / and you know they only made him do that s--- because he's Black." "I ain't never gonna forgive him for the s--- he did," Smith continues in another voice. "You better keep his wife's name out of your mouth." Smith also references those topics on the second track, "You Lookin' For Me?", where he raps, "Won't stop, my s---'s still hot even though I won't get nominatеd / Personal life with my wife, mind your business, it's complicated." The actor and singer said in a video shared to Instagram on Friday that "You Lookin' For Me?" is "attached" to the first track and addresses "a little bit of where I've been and what I've been doing." "I just kept hearing people say, 'Where is Will Smith?'" he added. Smith's new album includes several previously released singles, including "First Love" featuring India Martinez and Marcin, "Beautiful Scars" featuring Big Sean and O Banga, and "You Can Make It" featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir. See the full tracklist for "Based on a True Story" below. Int. Barbershop Day ft. DJ Jazzy Jeff & B. Simone You Lookin' for Me? The Reverend (Rave Sermon) Rave in the Wasteland Bulletproof ft. Jac Ross Hard Times (Smile) ft. Teyana Taylor Beautiful Scars ft. Big Sean and OBanga Tantrum ft. Joyner Lucas First Love ft. India Martinez and Marcin Make It Look Easy The Reverend (YCMI Sermon) You Can Make It ft. Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir Work of Art ft. Russ and Jaden The Reverend (WOA Sermon) Will Smith addresses Chris Rock Oscars slap in new album 'Based on a True Story' originally appeared on
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Will Smith joined by DJ Khaled, Thalía for electric Premio Lo Nuestro performance
Will Smith joined by DJ Khaled, Thalía for electric Premio Lo Nuestro performance Show Caption Hide Caption Will Smith poses in an all black look at the 2025 Grammys Will Smith is all smiles at the 2025 Grammys. Entertain This! Will Smith is back in Miami, and he's ready to ir de fiesta. The Oscar-winning actor and rapper, who's been readying his return to music this past year, embraced a Latin flavor for his performance at the 2025 Premio Lo Nuestro awards on Thursday night. Smith's performance opened with a tantalizing duet with Spanish singer India Martínez. Rapping over a stirring flamenco guitar track, Smith and Martínez performed their emotional collaboration "First Love," which was released on Valentine's Day. The "Miami" emcee was then joined by hip-hop peer DJ Khaled for a throwback performance of his 1998 hit. "You know you can't come to the 305 and just give us one. You're gonna have to give us another one," Khaled teased. After a quick wardrobe change, Smith strutted across Miami's Kaseya Center as he rapped the song's feel-good lyrics. "Here I am, in the place where I come let go/ In Miami the bass and the sunset low," Smith boasted. Smith and Khaled received a boost of star power when Latin pop star Thalía emerged onstage to close out the medley performance. The dynamic trio gyrated in unison for a quick salsa-style combination before launching into a spirited rendition of Miami Sound Machine's '80s hit "Conga." Earlier this week, the Grammy-winning rapper reflected on his musical rebirth during a surprise appearance at a "First Love" release party co-hosted by Neon16. "This is a really beautiful time for me as I'm starting to release new music," said Smith, according to footage shared on social media. "I've had a couple of years of really wonderful introspection, and I've had some beautiful revelations. I'm having a ball trying to express these things artistically." Will Smith announces new album: Actor previews pivot back to music Will Smith's year of soft-launching his next album Smith's performance comes as the rapper is gearing up for his first album release in 20 years. Smith revealed in January that "Based on a True Story," which follows 2005's "Lost and Found," is expected to drop in March. To complement the album announcement, Smith released "Beautiful Scars," a collaboration with fellow rapper Big Sean. A lengthy, reflective track that chronicles either man's journey to self-understanding, "Beautiful Scars" layers rap verses over an auto-tune heavy chorus. Smith has been soft launching his comeback 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, Joyner Lucas and Smith's son Jaden. Will Smith at BET Awards: Rapper performs uplifting track 'You Can Make It' "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." Smith performed the song at the 2024 BET Awards, one of a number of live performances and festivals that have also laid the groundwork for his pivot back to music. Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
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. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Will Smith's 10 best movies:ranked 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
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Smith releases single with Big Sean to feature on first album in 20 years
Will Smith has released a new single featuring Big Sean that will feature on his first full studio album in 20 years. The track, Beautiful Scars, featuring OBanga, premiered on YouTube at 5pm GMT on Thursday in a video where Smith and Big Sean re-enacted a scene from hit film The Matrix. In the science fiction movie, character Neo is given an option to take a blue pill, and return to his life as normal, or a red pill that will reveal the truth of the world in which he lives. In the music video, Smith takes both pills after Big Sean gives him the option to either take the blue pill, and move on with his life, or to take the red pill and go back in time to star in the Wachowskis sisters' film. Donning Matrix-style sunglasses, Smith raps: 'Fly as a eagle, fresh out of Philly, yeah I still rep the city.' He is also seen practising karate with Big Sean. Smith's forthcoming album, Based On A True Story, will be released in March 2025 – two decades on from his last studio album, Lost And Found. He released his debut solo album Big Willie Smith in 1997 and had UK chart success with the song Men In Black, which accompanied the film of the same name and peaked at number one. Across his career, he has starred in dozens of films and TV series and is also known for rapping the catchy theme song to US sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. His latest single follows on from the release of Tantrum with Joyner Lucas, You Can Make It, featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, and Work Of Art, which was a collaboration between rapper Russ, featuring his son Jaden. All of these tracks will feature on the new album.
