Will Smith Dealt Major Blow As Comeback Album ‘Flops’

Will Smith‘s comeback album “Primarily based On A True Story” is reportedly struggling commercially, promoting simply 268 copies within the UK and lacking the Billboard 200 within the US.

Regardless of star-studded collaborations and private lyrics addressing the 2022 Oscars slap immediately in tracks like “Int. Barbershop — Day and You Lookin’ for Me?,” the album failed to achieve traction.

Undeterred, Will Smith plans to launch two extra albums and embark on his first headline tour throughout Europe.

Smith’s long-awaited return to music after almost 20 years has fallen flat. His new album, “Primarily based On A True Story,” which is his first since 2005’s “Misplaced and Discovered,” has failed to achieve industrial traction.

The 14-track album contains collaborations with some huge names, corresponding to “Stunning Scars” that includes Huge Sean, “Work of Artwork” together with his son Jaden Smith, and “Exhausting Occasions” with Teyana Taylor; the latter of which he was actively selling on Instagram as just lately as Friday.

Nonetheless, regardless of the big-name collaborations, the album bought simply 268 bodily copies in its first week within the UK, with solely 36 digital downloads reported, based on The Sun.

Within the States, the reception wasn’t any higher, as Forbes reported that the album did not make it onto the Billboard 200, marking the primary time a solo Will Smith challenge has missed the chart totally.

The album was seen by many as Smith’s try and reignite his music profession and reconnect with followers following the fallout from the controversial 2022 Oscars incident involving comic Chris Rock.

Regardless of the lukewarm reception to his newest album, Smith is not slowing down. Experiences counsel the 56-year-old entertainer plans to drop two extra albums earlier than the yr is out.

He is additionally gearing up for his “first-ever” headline tour, which can take him throughout numerous venues all through the UK and Europe.

The tour will characteristic a mixture of new materials from “Primarily based On A True Story” and traditional fan favorites like “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” “Miami,” and “Summertime.”

Cities on the record embody locations like Scarborough and Wolverhampton, whereas main stops like Birmingham, Glasgow, and Dublin are noticeably absent.

Earlier than kicking off his solo tour, Will is about to carry out at a number of worldwide festivals, together with Mawazine in Morocco, POSITIV Competition in France, Dreambeach in Spain, and the BIG ART Competition in Italy.

Saying the tour on Instagram final month, he wrote: “I’M GOING ON TOUR THIS SUMMER!! We’re hitting up the UK & Europe to carry U all of the hits, some new joints, and some surprises All these years, I’ve NEVER carried out a headline tour and I am unable to wait to see you guys!!”

On his new album, Smith did not draw back from controversy as he tackles the notorious Oscars slap incident with uncooked honesty. His opening observe, “Int. Barbershop — Day,” kicks off with the road: “Will Smith is canceled.”

That includes DJ Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone, the observe unfolds like a chaotic dialog, with completely different voices buying and selling opinions and speculations in regards to the “Suicide Squad” actor.

One voice questions, “Who the f-ck Will Smith assume he’s?” whereas one other responds, “I ain’t by no means going to forgive him for that sh-t he did.”

The second they’re referring to occurred through the 2022 Academy Awards, when Smith surprised audiences by strolling onstage and slapping Rock, who had made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.

After returning to his seat, Smith shouted, “Hold my spouse’s identify out your f-cking mouth!” Later that night time, he took dwelling the Oscar for Finest Actor for his position in “King Richard.”

Following the 2022 Oscars incident, Smith confronted important fallout. Regardless of successful his first Academy Award that night time, the actor was handed a 10-year ban from attending any Academy-related occasions.

Along with being exiled from the Academy, he publicly apologized, expressing that he was “deeply remorseful” for his actions.

In the meantime, manufacturing on his Netflix movie “Quick and Unfastened” was additionally paused within the aftermath. Smith references the scandal all through his new album.

On the second observe, “You Lookin’ for Me?,” he delivers a pointed verse: “Took rather a lot, I am again on high / Y’all gon’ should get acclimated / Will not cease, my sh-t nonetheless sizzling / Though I will not get nominated.”