During a recent interview, Will Smith revealed what advice he’d gotten from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar while creating his new album, Based On A True Story. According to Will, the rappers suggested that the rapper-turned-actor focus on being himself and telling his truth authentically.
“Jay said, ‘Don’t fake your story,’” Smith begins. “He was like, ‘You gotta say what’s true for you.’ 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 you story.’ Smith claims this led to the inspiration for the album’s title.
Regarding his words of advice from Kendrick, Smith says the Compton native urged him to push his boundaries, and “say that sh*t you’ve always been f*cking scared to say.” He continued: “Basically the same thing, be honest…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 Drops ‘Based On A True Story,’ Addresses Marital Issues & Chris Rock
On Friday (Mar.28), Will Smith released his first album, Based On A True Story, in nearly two decades.
The 14-track project features Teyana Taylor and social media personality B. Simone. His longtime collaborator and friend, DJ Jazzy Jeff, is also featured on the album. In the album’s intro, “Barbershop,” Smith addressed the controversies that followed him throughout his career, more recently his complicated relationship with his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, and his physical altercation with Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.
“Who the f*ck Will Smith think he is?/And that boy damn crazy how he raising them kids (What?),” he raps. “No, he isn’t, Yes, he is/No, he isn’t, Yes, he is/And I ain’t never gonna forgive him for that sh*t he did (Boy, bye).”
“He put all the Philly on his back/Bottom line y’all, Will Smith is wack,” Smith continues. “I mean, he rich, funny and sexy too/ You wish you had a Jada Pinkett next to you/Him and Jada both crazy girl, what you talking about?”
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