Album: Will Smith - Based on a True Story

Will Smith’s new album, Based on a True Story, is a prime example of why some comebacks should remain hypothetical. After two decades away from music, one might expect a seasoned, self-aware return – something with the wisdom of age and the energy of experience. Instead, we get a collection of tracks that feel like they were brainstormed during an awkward dad-joke marathon.

The album kicks off with Smith addressing that Oscars moment, but instead of offering insight or clever lyricism, he dances around it like he’s dodging responsibility at a family barbecue. The track plays like a forced therapy session, except the only takeaway is that he still wants us to think he's the good guy.

Lyrically, the album leans heavily on self-mythologising. Songs like Bulletproof and You Can’t Break Me feel more like motivational speeches than actual music, and not in a fun, pump-you-up way – more in the "your boss just sent you a cringe LinkedIn post" kind of way. There’s no denying Smith’s charisma, but here, it feels like he’s relying on old tricks that don’t land in today’s music scene.

Production-wise, it’s all over the place. Some beats sound like they were lifted from early 2010s YouTube instrumentals, while others attempt a modern trap-inspired approach that just doesn’t suit his flow. The nostalgic throwbacks lack the charm of his Big Willie Style days, and the newer influences feel forced – like watching your uncle try to use TikTok slang.

At its core, Based on a True Story is an album that doesn’t know what it wants to be. It’s part redemption arc, part self-help seminar, and part midlife crisis – all wrapped in beats that feel more outdated than a flip phone. Maybe some stories don’t need a sequel.

• More new music reviews on theartsdesk