The Fresh Prince is back, as Will Smith returns to the rap game. Following a successful Oscar-winning acting career in Hollywood, it's easy to forget that Smith was introduced to mainstream audiences as a rapper. In fact, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, he was the first recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. 36 years following his historic win, Smith has returned to the underground from Tinseltown.

Based on a True Story marks Will Smith's fifth studio album, with his last album releasing 20 years ago in 2005. Smith attempted a music comeback in 2018, but his amazing unfinished rap album stayed unreleased. Now, after two decades, Smith completes his journey back to the recording studio. This is a Will Smith on the mic unlike ever seen before, bringing a newfound wisdom and - even more shockingly - curse words into his verses. Rather than judge this album based on past projects, it's easiest to judge Based on a True Story by ranking its best and worst tracks.

11 "Work of Art" feat. Jaden and Russ

Will Smith Ends the Album on a Dour Note

Collaborations between Will and Jaden Smith are rare; few, and far between. Even when it comes to regretful movie roles, have only appeared together a handful of times onscreen. "Work of Art" marks the first time that Jaden and Will Smith ever shared a song together. Such a landmark achievement should be treated as a major event, and as the final song on the album (not counting one last epilogue speech for "The Reverend (WOA Sermon)"), it is ittedly treated as such. It's just too bad the song doesn't stick the landing.

Will Smith starts things strong with his first verse, but can't keep the momentum for the rest of the song, nor can Russ or Jaden carry it. Russ' verse in particular is not one of his better rap efforts, and that's being kind.

10 "Hard Times (Smile)" feat. Teyana Taylor

The Most Disappointing Track on Will Smith's Album

On the track before, "Bulletproof," the featured artist couldn't live up to the expectations of Will Smith's verses. Here, the opposite is the case as Smith struggles to keep up with Teyana Taylor. The A Thousand and One movie star is one of the most talented singers in the music world right now, so it's no surprise she executes the chorus to perfection. Smith, meanwhile, delivers some of Will Smith's weakest verses on the album.

There's something about Smith's raps here that just feel incredibly dated, which in itself is disappointing when so much of this album sees Smith pull off being surprisingly modern. Something like a 15-year-old reference to "Fancy" by Drake - who, considering his rap beef with Kendrick Lamar, maybe Smith should reconsider paying homage right now - feels like a leftover lyric from his vault. Smith and Taylor, on paper, could make an amazing combo, but the duo disappoints because of Smith's subpar bars.

9 "You Lookin' For Me?"

Despite A Surprisingly Cocky Attitude, Will Smith's Lyrics are Forgettable

While the intro sports more of a subtle beat, the second track on the album gives Will Smith more of an aggressive tune to work with. The production starts off melodic, slowly crescendoing into something more bombastic, soon intensifying as Smith increases his cadence. The faster he rhymes, the higher the beat intensifies. Honestly, the production is impressive, even more so than the lyrics on display.

Lyrically, Will Smith attempts to further acclimate himself to modern times as he spits about how, no matter how much controversy he produces, he's still getting paid, he's still highly sought-after, and he's everywhere, from "your TV" to "your IG." Heavily referencing social media throughout certainly modernizes The Fresh Prince, but fails to leave a lasting impression. It's classic braggadocio rhymes, but the attitude he brings to the table is more memorable than the lyricism.

8 "Beautiful Scars" feat. Big Sean and OBanga

Will Smith Gets Outshined by One of His Features

"Beautiful Scars" was released as a single for Based on a True Story, one that rode a wave of momentum from Will Smith's Matrix teasers for the music video. Honestly, lyrically, Will Smith's verses leave a lot to be desired. For all the hype surrounding this record serving as Smith's official comeback to music in promoting the album, his lyrics are disappointing. It doesn't help that, by comparison, Big Sean provides a show-stealing verse. Some will say it's unfair to compare the more consistent Detroit rapper to a veteran who has just returned to the rap game.

However, seeing how sharp Big Sean is next to Will Smith almost exposes how out of shape Will Smith is as a rapper, at least on this track where he struggles to catch up to Sean. Thankfully, Smith has much better performances on this album in other tracks, but comparing his work to Big Sean's here is like night and day. Will Smith looks worse for wear as a result.

7 "Int. Barbershop - Day" feat. DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone

Will Smith's Intro Sets the Tone for the Rest of the Album

The introduction of Based on a True Story sees Will Smith speaking on from the perspective of critics who "ain't never gon' forgive him for that s*** he did." With assistance from comedian B. Simone and frequent collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith makes it clear early that he isn't afraid to talk on this album about controversies revolving around his wife, his children, and his 10-year Oscars ban that just reached the three-year mark.

The first track is a simple, yet fun, way to kick off the album and highlight how this is a new era of music for Will Smith. Not only because he's quick to use foul language despite taking stances in the past against cursing in his records, but just because of how bold he is at addressing his critics. Plus, there's something nostalgic about hearing DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's voices on a track together again after so many years apart.

6 "Bulletproof" feat. Jac Ross

Especially in his acting career, Will Smith has built a reputation as being immensely humble, but much of this album sees him taking a more braggadocious approach. It especially resonates knowing the controversy he has been the spectacle of for so long, so lines like, "I am invincible, I am the anomaly / whole world against me, and it ain't even bother me" read as especially apropos. "Bulletproof" is simultaneously Smith reminding audiences of the magnitude of his star power, while also celebrating how that star power has survived the world being against him.

It's hard being a gunslinger

Being trapped inside a fun singer

For three decades, I been a sunbringer

You can sum me up with just one finger

Pick one, anyone, they all apply to me

Whatever finger you pick, just don't lie to me

Lyrically, it provides Will Smith's best verses on the album. His tongue and pen are both as sharp as they were in his days as Fresh Prince, if not sharper. It's just a shame that the chemistry with Jac Ross isn't there. Ross' inspirational hook against Smith's cocky attitude just doesn't fit together, creating some on-track dissonance.

5 "You Can Make It" feat. Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir

Will Smith's Inspiring Sentiment Overcomes Some Lackluster Elements

Will Smith's social media presence and typical attitude in interviews is often that of trying to be inspirational, so naturally, he brings that level of optimism into one of his tracks for the album. ed by the previous introduction/interlude track, "The Reverend (YCMI Sermon)," this song feels like a thunderous attempt to remind listeners that everyone is going through something difficult in life. The message isn't just to overcome challenges, like other songs spell out on the album, but to make everyone's life easier by showing kindness when possible.

It's inspiring indeed, but the Will Smith track isn't without flaws. "You Can Make It" sports a similar issue to "Bulletproof" in pitting a rapper's verse at odds with the hook. Will Smith's verses are great, but the autotone on the chorus feels a little grating. Be that as it may, "You Can Make It" still holds up better than "Bulletproof" for the simple fact that the sentiment of the message endures, as does Smith's strongly worded verses.

4 "Rave in the Wasteland"

An Old School Rapper in Will Smith Adopts a New School Sound

Assisted by "The Reverend (Rave Sermon)" guiding listeners into this track through prayer and preaching, Will Smith delivers the most energetic record on the album thus far. Four tracks deep, Smith experiments with his sound with an array of drums and bass to dance to. This song emulates exactly the kind of music one would hear at a rave.

It's refreshing to see Will Smith not just use his comeback to coast off a sound from 20 to 40 years ago, but actually wants to produce something he's never done before. "Rave in the Wasteland" shows how Smith attempts to experiment with his rap flow and how willing he is to test it out on a different kind of production than he's typically rapped on. Nothing acclimates Will Smith the rapper into a new era better than seeing him commit to the current era's newer sound wave.

3 "Make It Look Easy"

Will Smith's Attempt at Reggaeton is a Win

In another surprising bit of experimentation, Will Smith tackles the afrobeats genre. It's a genre that is slowly taking over the pop world, so he could not have picked more of a timely opportunity to try the genre on for size. Even more surprising, Smith manages to make the transition look easy, ironically enough. He coasts so smoothly on an already smooth beat, flow-wise, as if he's been in the genre for his whole career. Island vibes suit Smith very well.

The finished result is a fun song with an upbeat tempo where Will Smith always shines. If there is any small nitpick, it's distracting that the chorus has an uncredited feature, which is distracting (especially when, as of this writing, there's no information on who is singing on the hook), but doesn't take away from just how catchy the hook and overall song are. It's hard to not be in a good mood listening to this one.​​​​​​​

2 "Tantrum" feat. Joyner Lucas

No Other Song on This Album Sees Will Smith So Fired Up

"Lyrical venom" is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the rap space to the point of cliché as a way to describe verses delivered with such high-energy and vicious lyricism. That term has seldom been more accurate than it has on this record, as both Will Smith and Joyner Lucas match each other's energy. Much of this album is spent of Smith talking about how he's endured the press and other obstacles, but this is when he's addressing it all from a more internal place.

He and Lucas trade barbs back and forth, one finishing the other half of each other's bar in entertaining fashion. Not to mention, both men's lines create such vivid, striking visuals, with Smith's "This a graduation with no damn diploma" being one of the standouts. For fans of addictive rap exchanges and ferocious flows, "Tantrum" ranks among Will Smith's best on the album.