Will Smith 'itchin' to release first album in 20 years

Will Smith is "itchin" to release his first album in more than 20 years.

The rapper has been absent from the charts for two decades but he's preparing for a big return with Based on a True Story, his first album since 2005's Lost and Found.

Smith revealed the new record is going to drop on March 28.

"It's OFFICIAL!! My new album 'Based On A True Story' drops March 28. TWO WEEKS!! Hit that presave," he wrote in a post on Instagram.

"Been working on this project for a minute and I'm itchin' to get it out to y'all."

The album features the singles First Love, Beautiful Scars, TANTRUM, Work of Art and You Can Make It plus collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor and Jac Ross.

Smith previously admitted he turned back to music following the controversy of the 2022 Academy Awards when he stormed the stage and slapped host Chris Rock shortly before being awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his movie King Richard.

"A well opened up inside of me, a well of understanding of art and pain … all kinds of things that I didn't even know were in there," the rapper and actor told Billboard.

"Then after the Oscars, that spiritual investigation continued and a whole world woke up inside that I didn't even know was there.

"Dreams, visions; parts of my inner landscape that I had no awareness of prior to three years ago. And that opened up this bubbling to share what I'm seeing and experiencing, to explore.

"A big part of my music now is about that: the ecstatic kind of joy I remember from church when I was growing up; the ability to try to make this place more bearable.

"You know, I've always had a wild imagination; that's part of who I am. But there's something new happening with me that's demanding I explore musically."

In the interview, Smith also hinted Based on a True Story will be the first of a three-part album series, comparing it to "three seasons of a TV musical show".