Great minds think alike, they say, and that proverb is particularly ponderous when it comes to rap legends. Will Smith is prepping to release his first album in two decades, Based On A True Story, and before his re-entry into the music world, he sought wisdom from hip-hop's two most respected voices: JAY-Z and Kendrick Lamar. Their responses? And remarkably similar and brutally truthful.
In a recent interview on 'Sway In The Morning,' Smith explained that before officially kicking the album into gear, he called JAY-Z and asked him one thing: What's your advice?
"He told me, 'You gotta tell what's true for you. You'll be focused on the younger rappers, and you wish that to be true for you, but you don't live like that." Be true to your story. Tell your story.'"
For Smith, those words resonated strongly. They were the very basis for the record's concept. "That's where I got Based On A True Story from Jay," he said. Not satisfied with just one perspective, Smith also reached out to Kendrick Lamar, hoping for another legend's wisdom. Kendrick's wording was different, but his message bore the same weight:
He paused and said, 'Man, just say that s### you've always been f###### scared to say,'" Smith recalled.
That advice, albeit blunt, tested Smith in more ways than he anticipated. He added, "It was scary, right? To just, like, say it."
But rather than shy away, he used it as fuel. Instead of chasing trends or attempting to create a hit based on whatever is popular at the moment, Smith embraced authenticity, making music that mirrors his journey and truth.
With JAY-Z and Kendrick Lamar saying that about him mapped into his creative process, Smith is seizing this moment for everything it's worth. "That's the beauty of genre. Whatever the record you want to make, make it," he said. "Don't make the record that you think people will love you for. Just make the one that's real."
Smith's first full-length album in 20 years, 'Based On A True Story,' will be released on March 28. The 14-track project will feature several guest appearances from heavy hitters, including his son Jaden, Big Sean, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Teyana Taylor.
This album is not just a comeback for fans but a new chapter in the legacy of a musician who has constantly reinvented himself. Whether in music, film, or personal growth, Will Smith shows us that the best stories are the ones told with heart.
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