https://www.jazzyjefffreshprince.com/forum/rss/3-will-smith-news.xml/The latest on Will SmithenFound out about an unreleased album today from 97. Features 24 tracks on, I believe, 2 cassettes I've contacted the record company who uploaded all the info to see if I can get hold of itThu, 12 Feb 2026 07:48:21 +0000https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/02/will-smith-accused-of-predatory-behaviour-and-grooming-by-tour-violinist This **** is running on every major news outlet!Sat, 03 Jan 2026 12:04:53 +0000Will released his new album Based On A New Story in March. It was meant to be the first part of a trilogy, but the second and third albums never came out. I think this is because the first album didn’t do as well as expected. I also believe the album didn’t connect with people for several reasons. First of all, it felt like he didn’t keep his core audience in mind. Will tried to sound modern, but it didn’t really work for either group. Older hip hop fans missed the classic Will Smith vibes. Younger listeners didn’t find it fresh or exciting enough. In the end, it sounded like he was trying too hard to stay relevant. Another problem was the production. There were no big names involved, and that surprised me. His long-time partner DJ Jazzy Jeff didn’t even handle the beats. He only appeared on the intro, and that was disappointing for people who love their chemistry. A third issue was the release strategy. Will dropped way too many singles before the album came out. On release day, only three or four songs were actually new. Most people had already heard the rest. So if you didn’t like the early singles, you probably didn’t feel any need to check out the full album. Some people were also surprised that Will started cussing in his songs. For years, he was known as a clean rapper who didn’t need swearing to make good music. Hearing him curse now felt strange and went against the image he built in the past. Another thing that didn’t help was the lack of a physical release. There was no CD or vinyl version, which made people feel like the album wasn’t treated as a serious project. And finally, the song “Pretty Girls” didn’t do him any favors. Many listeners thought it sounded silly and corny. Because of that, people didn’t have much hope for the rest of the music. Overall, the album had potential, but these choices hurt its chances. It’s a shame, because I was really excited to see Will return to music. Hopefully, he learns from this and still decides to release the rest of the trilogy one day.Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:10:40 +0000I found this short randomly as i came on my youtube earlier. Kid and DMX debating over if Will's music is really rap, this is what makes me sad. No disrespect to DMX RIP but people will never ever ever! Consider Will a ''real'' rapper 'MC and i don't think Based on a True Story helped anything or his last couple of freestyles. Why is it you have to be a street thug with cursing every other word in your lyrics to be considered a ''real rapper'' This is why rap to me will never feel like it felt back in the late 80's early 90'sMon, 03 Nov 2025 12:17:00 +0000https://people.com/karyn-parsons-says-her-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-character-was-almost-cut-before-shows-premiere-11811942 Karyn Parsons Says Her Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Character Was Almost Cut Before Show's Premiere 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' aired from Sept. 1990 to May 1996 By Angela Andaloro Published on September 18, 2025 12:59PM EDT Will Smith and Karyn Parsons as Will and Hilary.Credit : Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank NEED TO KNOW Karyn Parsons portrayed Hilary Banks throughout The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's run from Sept. 1990 to May 1996 Parsons looked back at her time as Hilary, as well as some of her other notable roles, during an appearance on the All Bets Are Off podcast, hosted by Robby Vegas The beloved sitcom recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of its debut The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was an unforgettable career highlight for Karyn Parsons...that almost didn't happen. In a recent episode of the All Bets Are Off podcast, the actress, 58, chats with host Robby Vegas about the 35th anniversary of the beloved sitcom's premiere. Looking back at her time playing Hilary Banks, Parsons reveals the character was nearly cut from the Banks family at the suggestion of some executives at NBC. When it came to developing the character, Parsons says, "The writers were pretty incredible. They were great from the get-go." Hilary Banks, Alfonso Ribeiro, Will Smith, Daphne Reid, James Avery, Joseph Marcell, Tatyana Ali. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty I "And then, as the show went on and new writers came in, I think they did a really good job of taking into consideration who they were writing for and how they work, and they were getting used to the character that I was creating," she continues. "The character that was on the page when I got the show was very thin... It said she was a model type, and it had her talking about Bruce and Demi and stuff. It didn't have a whole lot going on." "As a matter of fact, Brandon Tartikoff, who was the president of NBC at the time, when they were auditioning at the last network audition, he turned to Susan and Andy Borowitz, who created the show, and said, 'I think we should get rid of the daughter character. I don't... it just seems redundant,' " she recalls. Karyn Parsons, Janet Hubert, Will Smith, James Avery, Joseph Marcell, Tatyana Ali, Alfonso Ribeiro. Chris Cuffaio/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty "And [Andy and Susan] said, 'Just wait. Wait until this girl comes in.' They told me this story later. And I came in and did my whole weird affectation that I guess nobody else was doing." Parsons says that the affectation that became Hilary's signature — a mix of Malibu kids she got to know growing up in Santa Monica, as well as "my friend Leanne and my cousin Garland" — was born of her "trying to figure out how this character works for me." "The affectation, at first, seemed over the top. Like, maybe it's too much. But it kept carrying me. It worked. Judy Richmond, who was the amazing costumer on the show, she said that when I put the clothes on, that I became Hilary. And it was a little bit true," Parsons says. "Once I put the clothes on, my body started to change. My whole hips kind of fell and this lazy attitude just started to take over and once I started with the way she spoke, it just all fell into place." The role also allowed Parsons to embody someone so different from herself, which was "so fun" for the actress. "I was raised very much the good girl...and Hilary was the opposite," she explains. "She said whatever, unapologetic, I want this...she just said it and that was never me, so it was so fun to be able to be that person."Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:49:53 +0000Source: https://deadline.com/2025/09/will-smith-westbrook-paramount-pictures-1236505527/Wed, 03 Sep 2025 21:34:42 +0000What's up fam!!! I haven't been here for a while pretty much letting Will's album fully sink in, and i feel like it's a huge miss step. I get it i understand where. Will's coming from he had alot to get off his chest and vent through his music but this ain't it. The reception over all is just bad a few tracks of course, Tantrum is a banger Bulletproof i really like, You Can Make It, Work of Art but the overall feel of the album is just isn't sitting right. I totally agree with Tim Pretty Girls is trash. Trash beat, lyrics i guess will wanted a fun chill song but he could have done better than this. I can name about a dozen tracks will's done about loving the ladies that's so better than. Pretty Girls and he's getting clowned over his. Lunch Break freestyle. I really think. Will needs to dial it back this feels like a get back at everybody tour that's failing bad. I want will to get back into that music that everyone can listen to. Nothing about the new album will ever feel the way his classics felt and that's what i'm. REALLY Missing right now. Also. No Jeff at all on the whole album except that Damn intro where i still can't tell if that's him or not talking. This just isn't the feel and vibe i was looking for with this album. I'm a Will fan for life but this album feels like a huge miss.Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:57:01 +0000Will Smith being interviewed on the Big Time Podcast in Saudi Arabia. I don't believe this interview has been posted anywhere on this site.Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:06:07 +0000Nice song.Sun, 22 Jun 2025 09:59:29 +0000This is seriously one of the worst tracks Will has ever released. What was he thinking? Bad beat, horrible lyrics and horrible concept. I feel like he has killed his musical comeback with this rubbish. Very disappointing. How did no one near him not tell him this song is awful.Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:41:29 +0000Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:43:27 +0000This is being released, right? The verse is dope. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJkjWovyCBg/Tue, 13 May 2025 11:45:56 +0000Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:01:42 +0000Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:43:26 +0000Noriega is a terrible interviewer, but Will makes up for it. He tells some stories for the first time here.Sun, 06 Apr 2025 17:40:29 +0000This is a great interview.Sun, 06 Apr 2025 02:32:19 +0000Yea i still do this lol. At this point its just a Demo, still finalizing the mix and elements. just wanted to post it for some early opinions. I was thinking of doing the entire album but that's an idea for another day.Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:25:34 +0000Sat, 29 Mar 2025 22:12:15 +0000Reviews have started to come in on the new album: Variety: https://variety.com/2025/music/album-reviews/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-album-review-1236351175/ - they call for a JJFP album in this! Axios: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/28/review-will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-return-rap Clash: https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story/ The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-review-album-5gcgwt0g7 Screen Rant: https://screenrant.com/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story-album-songs-ranked/ RIFF Magazine: https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/will-smith-based-on-a-true-story/ A lot of the reviews are pretty negative.. don't if it's just holdover hating, I think the RIFF magazine one is pretty fair though.Sat, 29 Mar 2025 06:22:50 +0000We waited 20 years for a new album. Two more are lined up. For the first time ever, Will Smith/JJ+FP is headlining a tour that's going around the world. Yes, stream it and get those numbers up, but BUY this digital album. Money talks. This is how we get more. This is how they know people want this music and more of it. Like the social media posts that support this album. Let's gooo!Sat, 29 Mar 2025 01:21:33 +0000Let us know.Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:11:14 +0000Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:04:13 +0000New song dropping Feb 14! https://www.instagram.com/p/DF_bG-ws-BD/Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:36:11 +0000February 2 https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-presenters-anthony-kiedis-cardi-b-chad-smith-gloria-estefan-olivia-rodrigo-queen-latifah-sza-taylor-swift-victoria-monet-will-smithSat, 01 Feb 2025 00:31:52 +0000Will is performing in Belgium at Ronquières Encore on August 5th. https://ronquieresfestival.be/festival/news/articleencoreFri, 31 Jan 2025 13:36:29 +0000