Despite my preference for country and rock music, I have always had an appreciation for ’90s hip-hop and rap. As a fan of most things from that era, I was both shocked and intrigued when I heard Will Smith was releasing a new album. Now, after listening, I question my initial excitement.
Rap has evolved significantly since Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff dominated the airwaves, but this album was not what I expected—in a disappointing way. While I can look past the 2022 Oscars incident between Smith and Chris Rock, it is clear this album is designed to capitalize on the controversy.
The opening track, “Int. Barbershop,” features a conversation between Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone, centering on the infamous slap. Rather than offering a fresh perspective, the track feels like an attempt to extend the media spectacle. “You Lookin’ for Me?” follows, continuing the same narrative. At this point, the theme becomes repetitive—Smith laughed at the joke, got mad and caused a scene. We get it.
“Rave in the Wasteland” takes an unexpected turn, blending hip-hop and metal in a chaotic mashup. Lyrically, it introduces religious imagery (“144,000, we have been chosen to lead the awakening”), but the execution falls flat. The track lacks coherence, feeling more like noise than a meaningful statement.
The album finds a bright spot in “Bulletproof,” featuring Jac Ross. Ross’s vocals shine, elevating the track beyond the mediocrity of its predecessors. It’s well-written and well-executed, standing out as the album’s strongest moment. “Hard Times (Smile),” with Teyana Taylor, leans into contemporary pop influences. While it’s polished, it lacks the energy to be a standout track—more fitting for department store background music than a party playlist.
The next three songs—“Beautiful Scars,” “Tantrum” and “First Love”—blur together, failing to leave a lasting impression. They serve as filler, repeating the album’s earlier themes without offering anything new. “Make It Look Easy” brings some variety with a lighthearted pop vibe, though its chorus repeats the phrase “I make it look easy” an exhausting 38 times.
The album concludes with “You Can Make It” and “Work of Art.” The former is an encouraging anthem about perseverance—good, but not groundbreaking. The latter, featuring Jaden Smith, is puzzling, relying on heavy religious alliteration without enough depth to connect the message. The album also includes three spoken-word “sermons” intended to introduce or close out tracks, but they feel unnecessary and forced.
“Based on a True Story” is not a strong entry in Will Smith’s discography. While the album has a couple of redeeming tracks, it leans too heavily on past controversies rather than offering fresh, compelling music. Smith’s talent is undeniable—after finishing this album, I had to revisit “Miami” just to remind myself. Unfortunately, his latest effort doesn’t measure up. My final rating: 3/10.