Will Smith drops his first album in 20 years, Based on a True Story, and announces summer tour.
Will Smith is back—and he’s telling it like it is. The GRAMMY Award-winning artist, actor, and cultural icon has officially released Based on a True Story, his first full-length album in 20 years, via RITW/SLANG Recordings.
The 14-track album features a star-studded lineup of collaborators, including longtime partner DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, and Jac Ross. Previously released singles like “First Love,” “Beautiful Scars,” “TANTRUM,” “Work of Art,” and the Billboard Gospel Airplay No.1 single “You Can Make It” with Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir are all included.
To support the project, Smith has also announced his first-ever headlining tour, the Based on a True Story Summer Tour. Kicking off July 13 in Hamburg, Germany, the tour spans major cities across Morocco, Europe, and the UK. Stops include high-profile festival slots at Mawazine (Morocco), Dreambeach (Spain), POSITIV Festival (France), and BIG ART Festival (Italy). 
This new chapter comes alongside a full-circle hometown moment—earlier this week, the street outside Will Smith’s alma mater, Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, was renamed Will Smith Way.
“You Can Make It” recently gave Smith his first chart-topper since “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” making history as a No.1 hit on the Billboard Gospel Airplay Chart. He debuted the song with a powerful performance at the 2024 BET Awards, delivering his verse from a literal fire pit surrounded by flames.
With a refreshed sound and renewed purpose, Will Smith’s Based on a True Story signals a major moment of evolution—and he’s just getting started.
