After a 20-year hiatus, Will Smith is preparing to release his long-awaited fifth studio album, titled Based on a True Story, on March 28. The 14-track album will feature several previously released singles, including “You Can Make It” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service, “Beautiful Scars” with Big Sean and OBanga, and “Work of Art” with Russ and Jaden. The album will also feature appearances from artists like Teyana Taylor, Joyner Lucas, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, among others.
Will Smith, who initially gained fame as part of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, has not released an album since his fourth studio project, Lost and Found, in 2005. Alongside the release of his album, Smith also recently collaborated with Spanish singer India Martinez on a track titled “First Love”.
In a livestream appearance with popular streamer xQc, Smith revealed that he plans to release the album in “seasons,” likening his music to a TV series. He explained that the first part of the album, season one, will be released at the end of March, followed by season two later in the year, in July. The first season of the album will be titled Rave in the Wasteland, and Smith described the project as being inspired by a period of personal introspection, where he “kind of disappeared and went inside” to create the music.
In addition to the album’s music release, Smith shared his ambition for the project to expand into different forms of media. His goal is for the album to also be adapted into a TV show and movie, which he described as part of his “big dream” for the project.
