Will Smith is finally speaking out—in the rawest way possible—about the infamous Oscars slap, and he’s doing it through music. On Friday, the actor and rapper dropped his first solo album in 20 years, “Based on a True Story,” and it immediately tackles the controversy head-on.
The album kicks off with the bold opener “Int. Barbershop – Day”, featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone. It wastes no time diving into the aftermath of the 2022 Oscars incident. The very first line? “Will Smith is canceled.” What follows is a flurry of commentary, gossip, and brutally honest lines mimicking public backlash, including:
🔹 “Who the f** Will Smith think he is?”*
🔹 “I ain’t never gone forgive him for that stuff he did.”
The Chris Rock slap becomes the emotional core of the track, with Smith addressing rumors, public perception, and racial double standards. One particularly pointed lyric hits hard:
“I heard he won the Oscar but had to give it back / And you know they only made him do that s** because he’s Black.”*
Important note: Will Smith did not return his Oscar—though he was banned from the ceremony for 10 years by the Academy.
He also nods to the moment he defended Jada Pinkett Smith, with a reference to the now-famous line:
“You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.”
The reflection continues in another track, “You Lookin’ for Me?”, where Will raps about his resilience and comeback journey:
“Took a lot I’m back on top / Y’all gon’ have to get acclimated / Won’t stop my s** still hot / Even though I won’t get nominated.”*
Clearly, Will Smith isn’t running from the past—he’s turning it into art. The album is a bold, deeply personal response to the controversy that nearly derailed his career. And whether you’re a fan or a critic, there’s no denying: he’s got something to say, and he’s saying it loud.
