Will Smith has officially announced his first studio album Based On A True Story in two decades, marking a significant return to the music scene.
The celebrated actor and rapper, now 56, revealed that his upcoming fifth solo album will be titled Based On A True Story. Alongside the announcement, he dropped a brand-new single featuring rapper Big Sean and OBanga.
This return to music follows a long hiatus, during which Smith became more widely recognized for his Hollywood career rather than his hip-hop roots. Fans and industry insiders alike are eager to see how he blends his life experiences into his latest project.
To accompany the album reveal, Smith released a new track titled Beautiful Scars, complete with a visually striking music video. The video is heavily inspired by The Matrix, the 1999 sci-fi blockbuster in which he famously turned down the lead role.
In a clever nod to the film’s iconic “red pill, blue pill” moment, the video presents Smith with a choice: take the blue pill and continue his career as it has unfolded, or take the red pill and rewrite history by accepting the role of Neo—a part that ultimately went to Keanu Reeves. The artistic direction of the video serves as a metaphor for the pivotal decisions that have shaped Smith’s career and life.
Lyrically, Beautiful Scars delves into themes of resilience, personal growth, and self-acceptance. Smith reflects on the lessons learned from past mistakes, emphasizing that life’s wounds can be transformed into sources of strength.
“Every scar got a story, every cut got a name,” he raps, reinforcing the idea that challenges and setbacks are integral to personal development. The song’s message resonates deeply, particularly given the public scrutiny Smith has faced in recent years, making it a powerful statement about overcoming adversity.
One of the most defining moments of Smith’s recent history was the widely publicized incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage.
The altercation, which followed a joke Rock made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, dominated global headlines and sparked heated discussions about professionalism, violence, and personal boundaries in Hollywood.
That same night, Smith won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard, a moment that was overshadowed by the controversy. As a result, he was banned from attending the Academy Awards for ten years, a punishment that significantly impacted his public and professional standing.
Following the fallout, Smith largely retreated from the public eye, choosing to stay out of the spotlight for an extended period. He issued multiple apologies to Rock and to his fans, acknowledging his actions and expressing regret.
For nearly two years, his presence in the entertainment industry was subdued. However, in 2024, he made a highly anticipated return to the big screen with Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, the fourth installment in the action-comedy franchise alongside Martin Lawrence. The film was well-received, helping to reignite Smith’s standing in Hollywood.
Smith also made a grand re-entry into the music world with a performance at the BET Awards, signaling that his comeback extended beyond acting. His return to the stage at such a prominent hip-hop event demonstrated that he still had a deep connection to his musical roots.
The performance was met with enthusiasm from fans, many of whom had followed his career since his early days as a rapper. His reemergence in both music and film suggests a deliberate effort to reclaim his status as a multifaceted entertainer, one capable of thriving in multiple creative spaces.
Although Smith is now best known as a Hollywood heavyweight, his journey began in music. He first rose to prominence in the 1980s as part of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, alongside longtime collaborator Jeff Townes.
Their lighthearted, storytelling style set them apart in the rap scene, and in 1989, they won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance with their hit Parents Just Don’t Understand. The duo went on to release five albums together, producing classic tracks like Summertime and Boom! Shake The Room, both of which remain beloved to this day.
Smith’s success in music seamlessly transitioned into television with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a sitcom loosely based on his own life. The show became a massive hit, cementing his place in pop culture history and launching his acting career.
As a solo artist, Smith achieved mainstream success with chart-topping singles such as Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It and Wild Wild West, securing four Grammy Awards along the way. Now, with Based On A True Story, he is returning to the art form that first made him a star.
His latest project is set to be a reflective and personal body of work—one that will allow fans to see a more introspective side of the Fresh Prince as he embraces his past, his scars, and his continued evolution.
