Will Smith called Jay Z for advice before returning to the music industry and his wise words inspired the new album’s name. This collaboration between two entertainment titans marks a significant moment in Smith’s artistic journey after nearly two decades away from music.
The ‘Independence Day’s star is returning to the charts with ‘Based on a True Story’ – his first new record since 2005’s ‘Lost and Found’ – and he’s revealed he made two phone calls before hitting the studio to start the recording process – calling both Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar. These conversations with two of hip-hop’s most respected voices were instrumental in shaping Smith’s creative direction.
“Before I started, I made two phone calls. I talked to Jay and I talked to Kendrick. I was like: ‘Hey, I want to get back in music. What’s the advice?’ …” During an interview on the ‘Sway in the Morning’ radio show, Will explained. The radio appearance marked Smith’s first major interview discussing his return to music after focusing primarily on his acting career.
“[Jay said] ‘Don’t fake your story’. He was like: ‘You gotta say what’s true for you.’ He’s like, ‘You’ll be looking at the younger rappers and you want that to be true for you, but you don’t live like that.’ He was like: ‘Be true to your story. Tell you story.’ ” Jay-Z’s guidance reflects his own evolution as an artist who has maintained relevance through authentic storytelling throughout his career.
Will added that Jay’s advice inspire the name ‘Based on a True Story‘. The title serves as both a nod to Smith’s personal journey and a declaration of artistic authenticity in an era where transparency is highly valued by audiences.
He went on to reveal that Lamar told him to be brave and honest in his lyrics. Will shared: “[Lamar said] say that s*** you’ve always been f****** scared to say.” Lamar’s advice aligns with his own reputation for creating deeply introspective and socially conscious music that pushes boundaries.
Will previously declared he is entering the “greatest artistic creative period” of his life with the release of the new record last week. Industry analysts note that Smith’s return to music represents a growing trend of established entertainers exploring multiple creative outlets simultaneously.
“The past couple of years, I’ve been doing a very deep exploration of who and what I truly am,” he explained in a video on Instagram. “The process of this album is really allowing myself to be more honest with myself than I ever have about who and what I actually am. This is about to be the greatest artistic creative period of my entire life.” His social media announcement generated substantial interest from fans and industry observers alike.
The album features the singles ‘First Love’, ‘Beautiful Scars’, ‘TANTRUM’, ‘Work of Art’ and ‘You Can Make It’ plus collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor and Jac Ross. The reunion with DJ Jazzy Jeff is particularly significant, as the duo achieved tremendous success together earlier in Smith’s career.
Will previously admitted he turned back to music again following the controversy of the 2022 Academy Awards when he stormed the stage and slapped host Chris Rock shortly before being awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his movie ‘King Richard’. This incident marked a pivotal moment in Smith’s public persona and career trajectory.
“A well opened up inside of me, a well of understanding of art and pain … all kinds of things that I didn’t even know were in there,” the rapper/actor told Billboard. “Then after the Oscars, that spiritual investigation continued and a whole world woke up inside that I didn’t even know was there. Dreams, visions; parts of my inner landscape that I had no awareness of prior to three years ago. And that opened up this bubbling to share what I’m seeing and experiencing, to explore.” Music critics have noted that personal transformation following controversy has historically produced some of the most compelling work in artists’ careers.
“A big part of my music now is about that: the ecstatic kind of joy I remember from church when I was growing up; the ability to try to make this place more bearable. You know, I’ve always had a wild imagination; that’s part of who I am. But there’s something new happening with me that’s demanding I explore musically.” This spiritual and emotional depth is evident throughout the album, which has already generated significant attention since its release.
The collaboration between Smith, Jay-Z, and Lamar represents a bridge between different generations of hip-hop, combining decades of experience with fresh perspective. Music industry experts anticipate that this return could introduce Smith to a new generation of listeners while reconnecting with his established fan base.
