PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Actor/rapper Will Smith is seen during the Will Smith Way street renaming ceremony on March 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
Will Smith Sought Advice From Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar for New Album
Will wasn't about to drop an album before consulting two rap GOATs.
Today, Will Smith released Based On A True Story, his first album since 2005’s Lost and Found. While he’s no stranger to hip-hop, he’s obviously been gone a very long time, and it wouldn’t have been surprising to see that he got some pointers when approaching his latest musical effort. And it turns out he did just that.
In an interview with Sway’s Universe, Smith shared that he consulted with two of the greatest emcees in hip-hop before he dove into making the project: Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar.
“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,” Smith said. “What’s the advice?’ Jay said, ‘Don’t fake your story.’ He was like, ‘You gotta say what’s true for you.”
He shared that it was Jay’s words that inspired the album’s title.
“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 your story.’ That’s where I got the Based On a True Story from; Jay.”
As for Lamar, what Smith got from his younger counterpart was more rigorous. According to Billboard, K. Dot pushed the former Fresh Prince to face his fear as an artist.
“Basically the same thing, be honest. It was scary,” Smith explained. “Make the record you want to make. Don’t try to make the record that you think people will like you for. Make the one that’s authentic.”
Will Smith will hit the road this summer for a European tour in support of Based On A True Story.
https://youtu.be/ED2GQpwwYnQ?si=aQEBfk5wYhb030S0
