LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith is returning to his musical roots. The actor and rapper, who first gained fame in the music industry, has announced a new album set for release.
“It’s OFFICIAL!! My new album ‘Based On A True Story’ drops March 28,” Smith announced on social media. “TWO WEEKS!! Hit that presave. Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all.”
Smith’s upcoming album marks his first since “Lost and Found,” which was released in March 2005. The new project includes collaborations with artists such as Teyana Taylor, Jac Ross, and Obanga. DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith’s longtime friend and collaborator with whom he released the 1991 hit “Summertime,” is featured on the opening track.
Earlier this year, Smith released the single “Beautiful Scars.” In an interview with “Big Boy’s Neighborhood,” he discussed how his new music represents a shift from his previous work, explaining, “There’s a thing, there’s a brand that is Will Smith, you know, and the brand is slightly different from the man. The brand is just a really narrow slice of what the man is, and the man has expanded in a way that the brand can almost feel like a prison.”
The album announcement coincided with a weekend reunion of Smith and his “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star Tatyana Ali. The pair recreated an iconic scene from the series on TikTok, featuring an assist from Grammy-winning rapper Doechii. Their performance was set to Doechii’s viral hit “Anxiety.”
In April 2024, Smith made a surprise appearance during J. Balvin’s Coachella set.