Will Smith's long-awaited comeback album, Based On A True Story, is reportedly struggling to land on any of the Billboard charts in the United States. It marks the first project in Smith's career to not make it on the Billboard 200, with three of his previous four albums all releasing inside the top 10 spots. Additionally, in the United Kingdom, Based On A True Story reportedly sold under 300 total copies.
When The Art of Dialogue shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), fans had plenty of theories as to why the project flopped. "Can't just unretire after 20 years and expect people to rock with the music. Still a legend tho," one user wrote. Another suggested: "I do believe he should’ve promoted the album more, dropped singles first instead of a freestyle but i’m sure will just dropped an album for the hell of it."
Will Smith Album Reviews
Will Smith's comeback album "Based On A True Story" is reportedly struggling commercially, selling just 268 copies in the UK and missing the Billboard 200 in the US. pic.twitter.com/K9xnHLXsxo
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) April 16, 2025
Will Smith's Based On A True Story isn't just struggling commercially; it's also having a tough time with critics. Pitchfork gave the album a brutal 2.4/10 rating with Stephen Kearse writing that it is a "pointless apology tour" and "corny." Rolling Stone's Mankaprr Conteh also gave the project an unfavorable review, calling it "clunky."
On multiple songs, Smith references infamously slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars and the ensuing fallout with the Academy. When TMZ asked Chris Rock's brother, Tony, about Smith doing so, he labeled Based On A True Story “sh*t” and “trash.” He explained: “This album is probably sh*tty as f*ck because I haven’t heard anything about it other than ‘Oh, he addresses your brother.’ If that’s the only selling point, that’s a sh*tty album.” He also admitted he isn't even interested in giving the album a listen.
[Via]
