Beyond the Headlines

Will Smith walked into the studio like a man with nothing to prove, and everything to share. It wasn’t my first time interviewing him. Our last conversation happened over Zoom for "Emancipation," a heavy, introspective film. And, yes, the elephant in the digital room back then was still about the Oscars slap. This time, we met in person at will.i.am’s studio in Hollywood to talk about something different: his return to music with his new album, "Based on a True Story" along with his mindset after the infamous slap.

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Now, if you expected the vibe to be as tense as The Rock’s biceps, I wouldn’t blame you. But what I got was quite the opposite.

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As soon as Will stepped into the room, he was all charm and warmth. He gave handshakes for the crew, a booming laugh and a story queued up before we even got the camera rolling. Classic Will.

 

Before we could start setting up, he launched into an impromptu tale about the first time he met Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and Sylvester Stallone in the early ’90s, back when he was still “The Fresh Prince,” trying to break into big-screen stardom.

 

Will admitted he wasn’t invited into their conversation, but he interrupted anyway, telling them, “I want to be a big movie star. I want to do what y’all do.”

 

Then he asked: "What’s the secret?"

 

Arnold didn’t hesitate. “‘You must be successful everywhere on earth,’” Will recalled in his best Austrian accent. 

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Arnold also offered another piece of wisdom: Be likable. Shake hands. Hug people.

 

Our cameraman then chimed in with "Oh, like a politician?"

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Will's response, "Yes, exactly. Like a politician." 

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That early banter set the tone for the conversation that followed. It was one centered on vulnerability, growth and the courage to start again.

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Will’s New Chapter: Music as a Mirror

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Will opened up about the profound self-reflection he’s undergone over the past couple of years. He described delving deep, asking hard questions, sitting in discomfort and emerging with a renewed sense of identity. That internal work, he told me, is what laid the foundation for "Based on a True Story," his first full music project in over two decades.

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The album isn’t just a comeback. It’s a confession. Will uses music as a mirror, holding it up to moments of joy, regret, resilience and redemption. It’s clear that he’s no longer making art to dominate charts; he’s creating to understand himself and to offer that understanding to others.

 

He spoke candidly about how adversity became a teacher. “You have to face yourself,” he said. “Not the image, not the noise, but the real you.” He believes this kind of introspection is what makes his latest work feel necessary, not just nostalgic.

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The Power of Presence

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What struck me most during our interview wasn’t just what Will said, but how he carried himself. There was no sign of defensiveness, no air of needing to explain or rewrite history. Instead, he leaned into presence. He laughed freely, owned his missteps, and shared his truth without flinching.

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It reminded me that reinvention doesn’t always come from reinvention at all. But from reconnection to your craft and values, and your audience. Will isn’t just making music again. He’s making meaning.

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Go deeper: My Take on LiveNow from FOX

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Want to hear more of my reflections on the interview and Will's rebirth? Watch my full breakdown from my recent appearance on LiveNow from FOX, where I share my insights into his mindset: