Will Smith Reveals Release Date for First Album In 20 Years
Source: Courtesy of / Will Smith YouTube screenshot
After two decades, Will Smith is set to make his highly anticipated return to the world of hip-hop.
The Oscar-winning actor and rapper, whose name still echoes from the infamous “slap” incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, announced that his new album will be released on March 28.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, the multi-talented entertainer shared the exciting news with his 69.5 million followers:
“It’s OFFICIAL!! My new album, Based on a True Story, drops on March 28. TWO WEEKS!!
Hit that pre-save. Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all .”
Smith’s comeback album will feature 14 tracks and marks his reunion with DJ Jazzy Jeff.
It will also include collaborations with artists like Teyana Taylor and Jac Ross. Earlier this year, Smith dropped the single “Beautiful Scars,” which features Big Sean and Obangain.
Source: ROBYN BECK / Getty
Best known for his career in film, Smith first rose to fame in the late 1980s as part of the pioneering hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
Their hits, such as “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble,” were staples on MTV.
As his acting career took off with the success of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith balanced his film roles with music, often recording theme songs for his blockbuster films, including Men in Black and Wild Wild West.
His 1997 album Big Willie Style marked the height of his music career, followed by three more albums:
Willennium (1999), Born to Reign (2002), and Lost and Found (2005). However, he eventually took a break from music to focus on his film career.
While Smith has remained an entertainment icon, his reputation took a hit following the 2022 Oscars incident, in which he slapped comedian Chris Rock after a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The fallout led to Smith being banned from the Academy Awards for the next decade.
Now, with his new album on the horizon, Will Smith is preparing to reclaim his place in the music world, offering fans a blend of nostalgia and fresh sounds.
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