Will Smith is officially making his return to music — and fans couldn’t be more excited! The Hollywood icon just announced his brand-new album Based On A True Story, set to release on March 28, almost exactly 20 years after his last album dropped.
The big reveal came on Friday, March 14, when Smith shared the news on Instagram, along with the album cover and full tracklist. But here’s the twist — the songs are not just “tracks,” they’re divided into “episodes,” giving this album a unique storytelling vibe.
The album will feature some major names, including:
- DJ Jazzy Jeff
- Teyana Taylor
- Jaden Smith (Will’s son)
“It’s OFFICIAL!!” Will wrote in his post. “My new album Based On A True Story drops March 28. TWO WEEKS!! Hit that presave. Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all.”
This will be Will’s first album since Lost and Found, which came out on March 29, 2005. So, yes — this comeback is a big deal!
Will Smith’s Untold Moments with Prince and Biggie
In a recent appearance on the Broken Record podcast, Will shared a surprising story: just eight hours before Prince died, they spoke on the phone. Prince had pitched the idea of starting a new entertainment company with Will and JAY-Z. Sadly, by the next morning, the legendary artist was gone.
Will also shared that he met The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) just hours before he was killed in 1997 — a moment that still sticks with him.
Will Smith & JAY-Z: A Powerful Partnership
Even though the dream entertainment company with Prince never came to life, Will and JAY-Z have still worked together on major projects. Their companies — Overbrook Entertainment and Roc Nation — teamed up in 2020 to produce a limited series about Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Mobley. The story marked a powerful tribute to the Civil Rights Movement.
In 2021, the duo also joined forces to invest in Landis Technologies, a startup that helps renters become homeowners. Their investment helped raise over $165 million to buy 1,000 homes for low-income families, giving people a path to ownership.
