Will Smith Announces Release Date for First Full-Length Album in 20 Years

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Smith (right) and his ‘Based on a True Story’ album cover.Photo:Phil McCarten/CBS via Getty

Phil McCarten/CBS via Getty

Will Smithis ready to return to his roots.On Friday, March 14, the multi-hyphenate announced that his first full-length album in 20 years,Based on a True Storywill be arriving on Friday, March 28. Smith’s last album,Lost and Found,was released in March 2005.Smith’s 14-track album will feature a variety of collaborators, includingDJ Jazzy Jeff, with whom Smith first made his mark in music,Teyana Taylorand Jac Ross.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“It’s OFFICIAL!! My new albumBased On A True Storydrops March 28. TWO WEEKS!! Hit that presave. Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all 🫶🏾,” Smith wrote alongside the release date and album cover onInstagram.He first announced that he would be releasing a new albumwhen he unveiled his latest single, “Beautiful Scars,“in January. The track is a collaboration withBig Seanfeaturing Obanga.Back of album cover for ‘Based on a True Story’.The music video for the track caused a stir online, as it featured Smith playing Neo,The Matrixfilm character he famously turned downto star inWild Wild West.Big Sean starred alongside him playing the role of Morpheus.Other previously-released singles included on the new record include “Work of Art,“which features his son Jaden Smithand Russ, “Tantrum,” featuring Joyner Lucas and “You Can Make It,” whichSmith performed at the 2024 Bet Awards.Will Smith performing onstage at the 2024 BET Awards.Christopher Polk/Billboard via GettySmith previously opened up about how long it took him to complete the project in a May 2024 interview withExtra.“You know, I’ve been, this last year and a half, I’ve been in the lab. I have a project that is, you know, without question, the most personal and powerful music that I’ve ever made,” he said at the time. “So, you know, I’m going to sneak that out on you in a month or so.“On the same day of his announcement, Smith also reunited with hisThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AircostarTatyana AliandDoechiito film their version of her “Anxiety” social media challenge.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Being that the online challenge involves them doing dance moves similar to those he did on the hit television show, he wrote in the caption of hisInstagram video, “Waited 35 years for this dance to trend.”

Will Smithis ready to return to his roots.

On Friday, March 14, the multi-hyphenate announced that his first full-length album in 20 years,Based on a True Storywill be arriving on Friday, March 28. Smith’s last album,Lost and Found,was released in March 2005.

Smith’s 14-track album will feature a variety of collaborators, includingDJ Jazzy Jeff, with whom Smith first made his mark in music,Teyana Taylorand Jac Ross.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“It’s OFFICIAL!! My new albumBased On A True Storydrops March 28. TWO WEEKS!! Hit that presave. Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all 🫶🏾,” Smith wrote alongside the release date and album cover onInstagram.

He first announced that he would be releasing a new albumwhen he unveiled his latest single, “Beautiful Scars,“in January. The track is a collaboration withBig Seanfeaturing Obanga.

Back of album cover for ‘Based on a True Story’.

The music video for the track caused a stir online, as it featured Smith playing Neo,The Matrixfilm character he famously turned downto star inWild Wild West.Big Sean starred alongside him playing the role of Morpheus.

Other previously-released singles included on the new record include “Work of Art,“which features his son Jaden Smithand Russ, “Tantrum,” featuring Joyner Lucas and “You Can Make It,” whichSmith performed at the 2024 Bet Awards.

Will Smith performing onstage at the 2024 BET Awards.Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

Smith previously opened up about how long it took him to complete the project in a May 2024 interview withExtra.

“You know, I’ve been, this last year and a half, I’ve been in the lab. I have a project that is, you know, without question, the most personal and powerful music that I’ve ever made,” he said at the time. “So, you know, I’m going to sneak that out on you in a month or so.”

On the same day of his announcement, Smith also reunited with hisThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AircostarTatyana AliandDoechiito film their version of her “Anxiety” social media challenge.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Being that the online challenge involves them doing dance moves similar to those he did on the hit television show, he wrote in the caption of hisInstagram video, “Waited 35 years for this dance to trend.”

source: people.com