Why BOATS flopped - my opinion.

[fan 4ever]

Will 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.

[JumpinJack AJ]

I agree with most of this.  At the same time, what is sucess in music anymore?  Sure, there's people like Taylor Swift and Beyonce, but most people don't value music. They think it should be free and they'll listen to whatever the record labels pay for to be a success. Most people dont' have standards for the music they listen to.  I think releasing the other albums so quickly was too much. He should allow for them to breathe.  Since he's such a determined person, I'd be surprised if he really doesn't get this music out someway. 

I especially agree with him not keeping his core audience in mind.  As an artist, I want him to do what he wants, but I don't think this album as a whole delivers to those who are in his corner. I like the album, but I don't love the album.  I think he had a lot to get off his chest, but that could have been done with a formula that we all love. I think most of his fan base wants classic Hip-Hop that appeals to radio and the mainstream.  The album comes across as a compilation album to me, featuring lots of different sounds, but not truly coming together as an album.  I don't think the fact that he cussed on this album helped it, but I know there's a lot of people who probably though it was ill fitting. I'm one of them.  I listen to the edited version of the album. 

I don't think the producers were a main factor in its success. I think most of the guest artists contributed to the songs well, but the collaborations alone were nothing huge. 

The way he dropped the singles is pretty standard these days.  A lot of artists drop singles until the album is complete. I like the old school way of dropping one single a month or two before the album, then the other singles come as the album comes out or afterward. 

I agree that physical media was a big factor. If he had sold CDs, records, and even cassettes, it would have helped the album chat. I hate that I don't have a Based On A True Story CD sitting next to his other albums.  I would have listened to it more if I had the physical reminder of the album. I feel like he should release a three disc album with all the songs he's recorded for the project.  Just have 2,000-3,000 made. Sign some of them, and put them on the website. 

"Pretty Girls" was just a bad idea. Being a runway song, he could have partnered with some event where the song fit and let it be tied that, but since he released it as a stand along single, it just came across as a huge misstep of what people want and what they expect from him. 

I think another main factor is that the US music fan base is jaded.  Artists who were very successful just 10, 15 years ago are not supported...even laughed at.  I don't know what makes people turn on an artist, but with him having such a successful past and the Oscars incident, it's kind of words against him.  A lot of international music fans seem to be there for the love and support.  That's why Will toured overseas.  While he should have did a few spot dates in big cities here in the US, I don't know if he would have had the same success over here in the US. 

I hope this isn't the last we hear from him musically. Even if he doesn't take a chance on solo music, he's almost guaranteed success under the DJ Jazzy Jeff + Fresh Prince banner.  They've neglected that for too long.  I was just listening to Willennium the other day. That JJ+FP magic is loved and respected by so many.