Washington DC [US], March 16: Will Smith fans are in for a nostalgic treat as the actor and singer announces the release date of his long-awaited album, Based on a True Story. This marks his return to music after two decades, following the release of his last album, Lost and Found.
The King Richard actor shared the exciting news with his followers on Instagram, expressing his excitement to finally release the project. “Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all,” Smith wrote, alongside promotional images and the full tracklist.
The 14-track album includes previously released singles like “First Love,” “Beautiful Scars,” “TANTRUM,” “Work of Art,” and “You Can Make It.” It also features collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, and Jac Ross. Interestingly, the album’s art suggests that this could be the first part of a larger anthology, with the subtitle “Season 1: R.I.T.W.,” though the meaning behind the abbreviation remains a mystery.
Will Smith’s musical career began in the ’80s as part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, with hits like “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “A Nightmare on My Street.” After becoming a household name with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the ’90s, the duo released the iconic track “Summertime,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Smith later went solo, achieving massive success with Big Willie Style, which included the chart-topping single “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” His other notable hits include “Wild Wild West” from the movie of the same name, as well as the albums Willennium (1999) and Born to Reign (2002).
With the announcement of his new album, fans are eager to see Will Smith return to his musical roots after such a long hiatus.