Will Smith

Articles:

• Will Smith’s Comeback Album Fails To Make Any Commercial Impact | Forbes Advisor
Will Smith’s first album in 20 years, Based on a True Story, fails to chart on Billboard despite big-name features and a major promotional push.

• Will Smith 2.0: The Hollywood Star On His Return To Rap | Complex
Will Smith 2.0: The Hollywood Star On His Return To Rap

• Rap Slap: Will Smith's First Album in 20 Years, "Based on a True Story," DOA, Won't Make Top 20 Debut | Showbiz411 | April 2, 2025, 11:30 p.m.
For some reason, Will Smith thought everyone wanted a new rap album from him. It turns out, they did not. Smith’s “Based on a True Story,” is dead on arrival, DOA. Currently, number 11 on iTunes, “Based on a True Story” is number 2 of all rap albums. There’s no single on the charts and […]

• Will Smith's New Album Struggles To Land On Any Billboard Charts Amid Dismal Sales | HotNewHipHop
Will Smith's new album, "Based On A True Story," will be his first project to fail to chart on the Billboard 200.

• Chris Rock's Brother Goes Off On Will Smith's “Trash” New Album | HotNewHipHop
Will Smith references his infamous altercation with Chris Rock at several points on his new album, "Based on a True Story."

• Will Smith addresses life with Jada Pinkett Smith, the Oscars slap & more on first album in 20 years | REVOLT
He was banned, dragged and meme’d into oblivion. Now, Will Smith is spitting truths on his new album, ‘Based on a True Story,’ and the Oscars slap is just the intro.

• Will Smith Gets Bad Rap as "Based on a True Story" Album is Sales Disaster with Only 700 Downloads | Showbiz411 | April 15, 2025, 4:30 p.m.
Will Smith had better not give up his day job in acting. Will’s “Based on a True Story,” his first rap album in 20 years, has been a colossal sales dud. Through today, “True Story” has sold just 699 paid downloads. If you include streaming, the total is only 14,500. All of this includes pre-sales. […]

• Will Smith's "Based On A True Story" Is Being Absolutely Torn Apart By Critics | HotNewHipHop
Will Smith finally released his first full-length album since 2005, "Based on a True Story," to mixed reactions last month.

• Will Smith: Based on a True Story | Pitchfork
Read Stephen Kearse’s review of the album.

• Will Smith's comeback album 'flops' in the wake of Oscars slap scandal | Mail Online | April 12, 2025, 8:42 a.m.
Last month, the actor and rapper, 56, released his latest record Based On A True Story, but despite his superstar status, the album only sold 268 copies in its first week in the UK.

• Will Smith's Overwrought Comeback Album Is Our Fault | Rolling Stone Australia | March 31, 2025, 8:12 p.m.
A review of 'Based On a True Story' by Will Smith

• Will Smith's New Album: Every Song On Based On A True Story Ranked | ScreenRant | March 28, 2025, 2:13 p.m.
Best & worst of Will Smith's comeback.

• Album Review: Based on a True Story is Not Will Smith’s Shining Hour | SM2
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...

• Will Smith addresses Chris Rock controversy in new album Based on a True Story | The Economic Times
Will Smith on Friday released his new album, Based on a True Story, marking his return to music after a long gap of 20 years. His last work, Lost and Found, was out in 2005. In his latest album, the actor has addressed the slapping incident at the 2022 Oscars including popular comedian Chris Rock.

• Will Smith Drops ‘Based on a True Story’: Stream It Now | Billboard | March 28, 2025, 6:43 a.m.
Will Smith has officially returned to music with the release of 'Based on a True Story', his first studio album in two decades

• Will Smith Dishes on the Infamous Oscars Slap in New Album | American Songwriter | March 29, 2025, 3:20 p.m.
Acotr and musician Will Smith gets candid about "that" legendary Chris Rock slap in his new album, 'Based On A True Story'.

• Will Smith's new album "Based on a True Story" is his boldest yet | Delano Massey | www.linkedin.com
Taking a quick break from my usual stories — I needed a bit of a palette cleanse. This review was that for me. Will Smith just dropped Based on a True Story…

• With “Based on a True Story”, Will Smith unsuccessfully trades rapping for tedious preaching | PantherNOW | April 4, 2025, 4 p.m.
Dylan Masvidal | Staff Writer Nope, I’m not gonna do it.  I refuse to waste a single word on the “thing” you all expect me...

• Will Smith’s Overwrought Comeback Album Is Our Fault | Rolling Stone | March 31, 2025, midnight
On “Tantrum,” one of the most visceral moments from Will Smith’s new album, Based on a True Story, the 56-year-old growls, “Oh, y’all forgot I ain’t new with the pen/First hip-hop ...

• Will Smith Announces Comeback Album, His First In 20 Year... | Complex | March 15, 2025, midnight
Will Smith will soon release his first album in 20 years. On Friday (March 14), the Oscar winner announced his upcoming fifth album, Based on a True Story , which arrives March 28.

• Will Smith & Teyana Taylor Survive 'Hard Times' On New Album | UPROXX | March 28, 2025, midnight
Will Smith’s first album in 20 years has arrived. On Based On A True Story, the superstar returns to his roots for 14 new tracks of uplifting, motivational, storytelling rap. A prime example: “Hard...

• Will Smith Announces 'Based On A True Story' Release Date | UPROXX | March 14, 2025, midnight
Will Smith intends to put that adage to the test with his new album. After suffering a couple of career setbacks, the rapper-turned-actor has opted for a hard reset, returning to the skillset...

• Will Smith Addresses It All on First Album in 20 Years: O... | Complex | March 28, 2025, midnight
Will Smith leaps right into the fire in the opening seconds of his just-released new album Based on a True Story. Indeed, the album, his first since 2005’s Gold-certified Lost and...

• Will Smith reveals Jay-Z & Kendrick Lamar's advice for new album | NME | March 31, 2025, midnight
The Men In Black star’s new record, ‘Based On A True Story’, was released on March 28 and marked his first full-length album since ‘Lost And Found’ in 2005.

• Will Smith reveals release date and tracklist for 'Based On A True ... | NME | March 17, 2025, midnight
Will Smith has revealed the release date and tracklist for his forthcoming album ‘Based On A True Story’. ‘Based On A True Story’ will mark his first full-length project in 20 years, following...

• Will Smith Announces Major Career News | SPIN | March 17, 2025, midnight
Smith took to Instagram on Saturday, March 15, to share a few images along with the news that his latest album, Based On A True Story, will be released on March 28. The star shared the post with...

• Will Smith Announces First Album In 20 Years, Makes TikToks ... | Stereogum | March 15, 2025, midnight
On Friday (March 14), the multi-hyphenate announced its followup, Based On A True Story. The record features DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, Russ, Jac Ross, his son Jaden, and more.

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