It’s been three years since Will Smith’s life got flipped turned upside down after he slapped comedian Chris Rock on the stage of the 2022 Academy Awards.
In his song “Int. Barbershop — Day” from his new album “Based on a True Story,” Smith addresses the controversy head-on by talking about it on the first track of the album.
The close to two-minute track features Jazzy Jeff and B. Simone and consists of various voices shooting the breeze in a barbershop-like atmosphere. The topics of conversation touch on Smith’s children, his marriage to Jada Pinkett-Smith, his movie career, that slap and more – basically everything that has been said about the Fresh Prince over the past five years.
It starts off with someone saying, “Will Smith is canceled,” as another person chimes in, saying, “Oh, you can’t cancel no icon.”
After much back and forth, slapgate is addressed.
“I heard he won the Oscar but he had to give it back. And you know they only made him do that s–t because he’s Black,” one of the voices said.
While Smith was able to keep his award, he has been banned from the ceremony for 10 years for slapping Rock.
The conversation continues later when Pinkett-Smith’s name is brought up.
“Him and Jada both crazy, girl, what you talkin’ bout. You better keep his wife’s name out of your mouth.”
One of the last lines says, “I ain’t never going to forgive him for that stuff he did.”
Moments later, a bell can be heard, like that on a barbershop door, indicating Smith has entered the place, causing everyone to change their tune to a more favorable one towards the rapper/singer.
Smith talked about his marriage more on his new song “Lookin’ For Me?”
“Took a lot, I’m back on top, y’all gon’ have to get acclimatеd. Won’t stop, my s–t’s still hot even though I won’t get nominatеd. Personal life with my wife, mind your business, it’s complicated.”
Their relationship has been a topic of tabloid fodder for decades, but things exploded in 2020 when the couple addressed Pinkett-Smith’s 2016 entanglement with R&B singer August Alsina.
“Based on a True Story” is available now wherever you get your music.