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Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-review-1235307144/ (Spoiler: they don't like it)

Sounds like the second album is gonna have some hard hitting hip hop!

Hey Vipa I like that it is more of a hip hop beat I just don't think it changes up enough for the chorus.

That “freestyle” is good! He needs to put stuff like this on the next album.

As if Will is coming out with the best stuff of his career at age 56. He’s got more charisma in this than every modern rapper put together. As a fan, we know he’s awesome but this even has me shocked how good it is.

This is fire!!

Barbershop is great, that feels like old school jjfp and I’m here for it. The entire album hits for me, for sure. But Rave in the Wasteland is my current favorite, it just takes me over when it comes on.

Listen to our thoughts on the album in the latest episode of the Will Smith Podcast:

Yea i still do this lol. At this point its just a Demo, still finalizing the mix and elements. just wanted to post it for some early opinions. I was thinking of doing the entire album but that's an idea for another day.

I bought it on Amazon. Explicit version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1JGN9DL/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1P9EPHL903HSW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eNt701T1MQ-VRlalDIciSUistiG6QfVD6ayObaPKyM3Q2WPMOnBsLNUh2nKff9Fa2aVnwC7OxcYdEfP2kxFH3C0k_khnnaIniC8nrTJ0XICI5gzd71ybsoA4I7pKxuUOalniZbDQ97H_5oe6pSwt8OphNcHCqcecVMVqz1HR-Ji4jApc8I1w79EbNtI3WrdBiN73y4roGUJZOx-jKrUIPbpYI-wHyD0ukZ0DGlFJbJmyAhAN0fM-xtJp2jIIJbGZFP_yTu_B_jzKFxnQ-bQN9zvPmfw_4I2PrVE99x686ps.VIkE3o3ELFyguE1uZHvixICl7zP77I-QWW5GyMFFbFE&dib_tag=se&keywords=will+smith+based+on+a+true+story&qid=1743395806&s=dmusic&sprefix=will+smith+based+on+a+true+story%2Cdigital-music%2C123&sr=1-2 Edited version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1JSKW2J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P9EPHL903HSW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eNt701T1MQ-VRlalDIciSUistiG6QfVD6ayObaPKyM3Q2WPMOnBsLNUh2nKff9Fa2aVnwC7OxcYdEfP2kxFH3C0k_khnnaIniC8nrTJ0XICI5gzd71ybsoA4I7pKxuUOalniZbDQ97H_5oe6pSwt8OphNcHCqcecVMVqz1HR-JgEpH4w_qqynFaICio543iOYmaDg_dCE7DSOAgzlkBuTIUS6KO116IV-a-RpNB8uj2yAhAN0fM-xtJp2jIIJbGZFP_yTu_B_jzKFxnQ-bQN9zvPmfw_4I2PrVE99x686ps.-dmn8Mz9Jo6e_SIYTAy63Iol1i_CMJSgALmvObF_1DM&dib_tag=se&keywords=will+smith+based+on+a+true+story&qid=1743395839&s=dmusic&sprefix=will+smith+based+on+a+true+story%2Cdigital-music%2C123&sr=1-1

This is a hard one, but at the moment I think I would rank his solo albums as follows: 1. Big Willie Style 2. Willennium 3. Based on a True Story 4. Lost & Found 5. Born To Reign

Another great interview:

I’ve seen some reaction videos online that were very positive. So I guess people like it.

I couldn't even find where to buy the album.

Wow, this thread really surprised me. It doesn’t at all feel like he’s rusty, I’m absolutely loving his flow. It feels like the best it’s ever been. Right now, this is easily my favorite of his solo albums. Two important caveats, I was always way more of a jjfp fan than his solo music. Also, other than Kendrick Lamar and a smattering of other big hits, I’m not super tuned into rap anymore. So maybe I’m listening with out of touch ears. Based on a True Story Lost and Found Big Willie Style Wiilenium Born to Reign

You could say it's old school interms of consuming music, but I'm just stating facts. Streaming is just digits and micropennies. Buying the album is support. Buying albums the artist know if there is a market for a physical release. Buying contributes to charting.

Yeah, I have no interest in reading any reviews unless someone who likes Will's music is like "this is a good read." I couldn't care less about someone's opinion. What I think is interesting, is if you go to YouTube or something where you're actually listening to the music, it's virtually all positive. However, if you go to social media, there's a lot of hate. I think that speaks volumes.

If there is a physical album I will 100% but it, I like to have a music collection and I can put the CD in my car. But I have a subscription to Amazon music so I’ve been streaming it on that. The only option to buy that I can see is Apple Music for £12.99. I don’t have money to waste of buying it to then play it on an app I don’t use.

It’s a hard one because I still struggle to rate the original 4 haha. I’d say Willenium Lost and Found Big Willie Style Based on a True Story Born to Reign Still digesting BOATS, although I’ve probably listened to it about 15 times in the last 3 days.

Yeah Will doesn’t tend to get good reviews for either film or music so it doesn’t make much difference to me. What’s most important is that the fans are enjoying it and on the most part we are. I’m sure it matters more to Will what we think. i was going to make a joke about reviewers knowing nothing because it’ll be some 40 year old white person, but that’s actually describing me now haha.

I don't remember an album he has made that has gotten universally positive reviews. The people tho seem to have been enjoying the album in general.

Legendswillneverdie.com https://legendswillneverdie.com/2025/03/28/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-review/ The art desk https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-will-smith-based-true-story?amp Ratingsgamemusic.com https://ratingsgamemusic.com/2025/03/28/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-album-review/ Top Three Us https://www.topthreeus.com/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-album-review/

I think sonically it is far from what i'd expected, but i can't blame Will for that. Its just the way music sounds today. I don't like the genre mix, which also tops the genre diversity on Born to Reign. It may be his most ambitious project from an artistic and personal point of view, but as a hip-hop fan it doesn't meet my taste. Content wise he is saying more than he has ever said and his statements are more personal than ever. I was used to the uplifting positive vibes Will was putting his attention to on his previous albums. When he made music, he always put his listeners first. With this project its just about him, his ideas and how he feels. Maybe it'll sound a little bit provocative, but its kinda like a red table talk album. Honestly i am not that into his personal life problems. And the way he handled it was also a bit problematic (i really didnt want to know a lot of things they were openly talking about). Artistically it's cool that he's using music to deal with it, but as a fan it's just not what i want from Will Smith as a rapper. Overall I would rank this album as his weakest solo album. 1. BWS 2. Willenium 3. Lost & Found 4. Born to Reign 5. BOATS From a technical/lyrical point of view and his flow i think this is the best he has ever done. His voice is still not there and you can feel that he's been out of the game for two decades. Back in the day he was a lot smoother, now his voice sounds a bit pushed.

You are sounding OLD AJ! I have an Apple Music subscription so I'm not going to download anything.