Will Smith reveals Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar advice for new album
Will Smith released his new album Based on a True Story on March 28th. The project is his first in 20 years following 2005’s Lost and Found, for which he received some helpful advice from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar.
During a recent interview, the rapper/actor opened up about calling Jay and Kendrick for some tips ahead of his long-awaited project, resulting in the Roc Nation boss inspiring the title of the LP.
Recalling his conversation with Hov, he said, “I was like, ‘Hey, I want to get back in music.’ Jay said like, ‘Don’t fake your story.’ He was like, ‘You gotta say what’s true for you.’ And he says, ‘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 added, “It was like, ‘Be true to your story. Tell your story.’ And that’s where I got the Based on a True Story, from Jay.”
As for Kendrick, the Compton rapper echoed a similar sentiment, telling him to speak his truth and stay loyal to who he is. “Kendrick, he paused. He said, ‘Man, just say that shit you always been fucking scared to say.’ Kendrick said that. Basically the same thing. And it was like, ‘Be honest. Be honest,’” Smith remembered.
“It was scary to like, just say [that stuff]. And that’s the thing with genre. Make the record you wanna make, don’t try to make the record that you think people will like you for. Make the one that’s authentic.”
Smith’s new album consists of 14 tracks with features from longtime collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff, his son Jaden, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, Joyner Lucas, Russ and others. It’s supported by singles ‘You Can Make It’, ‘Work of Art’, ‘Tantrum’, ‘Beautiful Scars’ and ‘First Love’.