Will Smith’s New Album Name Was Inspired by Jay-Z’s Advice

Jay Z’s insightful advise served as the inspiration for the new album’s title when Will Smith approached him for guidance before to rejoining the music business.

With “Based on a True Story,” his first new album since 2005’s “Lost and Found,” the “Independence Day” singer is making a comeback to the charts. He has disclosed that before entering the recording studio, he called both Kendrick Lamar and Jay Z to begin the recording process.

In an appearance with the radio program “Sway in the Morning,” Will clarified: “I made two phone calls before I started. I spoke with both Kendrick and Jay. “Hey,” I said, “I want to get back into music.” How would you advise it?

Jay stated, “Don’t make up your narrative. He said, “You have to say what’s true for you.” He says, “You want that to be true for you because you’ll be observing the younger rappers, but you don’t live like that.” He said, “Tell your story honestly.” “Tell you a story.”

According to Will, the moniker “Based on a True Story” was inspired by Jay’s counsel.
He continued by saying that Lamar advised him to write vulnerable and truthful lyrics. Tell that s*** you’ve always been f****** afraid to speak, Will shared.

Will previously stated that the new record’s release last week marks the beginning of the “greatest artistic creative period” of his life.

“I’ve been doing a very deep exploration of who and what I truly am over the past couple of years,” he said in an Instagram video.

“The process of making this album has truly allowed me to be more truthful with myself about who and what I am than I have ever been before.

“My life is about to enter its most creative and artistic phase.”

The singles “First Love,” “Beautiful Scars,” “TANTRUM,” “Work of Art,” and “You Can Make It” are included on the album, along with joint efforts with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, and Jac Ross.

Prior to receiving the Best Actor Oscar for his film “King Richard,” Will said that he returned to music after the 2022 Academy Awards scandal in which he stormed the stage and slapped host Chris Rock.