Will Smith Announces Hip-Hop Return With Upcoming LP, ‘Based On A True Story’ 

Will Smith has been getting back to the booth in recent years, with the former “Fresh Prince” finally announcing his official return to music with upcoming LP, Based On A True Story.

Set to be released in March, the project lands as Smith’s first full studio project since Lost and Found, his 2005 release featuring singles “Switch” and “Party Starter.”

His latest tracks, which the Oscar winner has been slowly releasing for almost a year, feature the MC digging deep for new cadences, flows, and subject matter, going in on songs like the Russ-assisted “Work Of Art” and more recent banger, “TANTRUM,” featuring Joyner Lucas. The frequent collaborator honored Smith with is “WILL” tribute track in 2020, and the pair have been collaborating ever since. Back in 2023, Lucas even suggested that a joint album was on the way in an Instagram post wishing Smith well on his birthday.

“Dear hero. I never thought I’d ever meet you. Still trips me out that I grew up idolizing you, to then me making a record about my admiration and respect for you, to then you asking me to create a whole album with you,” Lucas captioned a clip of them in the studio together. It’s safe to say we can expect Lucas to also make his presence known on Based On A True Story.

Smith’s album announcement followed the release of his latest collaboration, “Beautiful Scars” featuring Big Sean, with the pair embracing a Matrix theme for the single’s accompanying video. Check it out below.