Will Smith Makes Triumphant Return with New Album “Based on a True Story”
Will Smith releases “Based on a True Story”, his first album in 20 years, and announces world tour.
Will Smith returns to music with purpose in Based on a True Story, his first studio album in two decades. Released via RITW/SLANG Recordings, the 14-track collection sees the GRAMMY-winning artist reflect on life, fame, family, and faith.
Blending elements of hip-hop, R&B, and gospel, Smith collaborates with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, and Jac Ross. Previously released tracks “First Love,” “Beautiful Scars,” “TANTRUM,” “Work of Art,” and the chart-topping “You Can Make It” with Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, offer a glimpse into an artist owning every chapter of his story.
“You Can Make It” recently hit No.1 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay Chart, Smith’s first No.1 since his 1998 hit “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” The track was unveiled in a stunning live performance at the 2024 BET Awards, where he performed amid real fire—a visual metaphor for resilience.
To accompany the album, Smith will embark on his Based on a True Story Summer Tour, marking his first solo headlining trek. Launching July 13 in Hamburg, the tour includes major European and North African cities with festival appearances at Mawazine, Dreambeach, and more.
Earlier this week, his hometown honored him by renaming the street outside Overbrook High School to Will Smith Way.
With a renewed sense of purpose and a career spanning music, film, and television, Will Smith’s Based on a True Story is a testament to transformation—and a new legacy in the making.