Will Smith is addressing his issues with Chris Rock in the music.
On his new album, “Based on a True Story,” released Friday, Smith wastes no time confronting the infamous Oscars slap. The track, “Int. Barbershop — Day,” immediately sets the tone with the phrase: “Will Smith is canceled.”
Featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone, the song mimics barbershop chatter, with voices debating Smith’s actions. “Who the f**k Will Smith think he is?” one asks, while another says, “I ain’t never going to forgive him for that shit he did.”
The controversy stems from the 2022 Oscars, where Smith slapped Rock for a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith being bald, which is attributed to her alopecia diagnosis. After striking Rock, Smith returned to his seat and yelled: “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” Later that night, he accepted the Best Actor Oscar for “King Richard.” “Int. Barbershop — Day” directly addresses the backlash.
“I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back/ And you know they only made him do that shit because he’s Black.” In reality, Smith kept his Oscar but resigned from the Academy and was banned from its events for 10 years.
The second track, “You Lookin’ for Me?” also hints at the fallout.
“Took a lot, I’m back on top/ Y’all gon’ have to get acclimated,” he rapped.
“Based on a True Story” marks Smith’s first solo album in 20 years, following his post-slap cinematic return in “Emancipation” and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”
