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Will Smith Taps Jay-Z & Kendrick Lamar for Timeless Wisdom on New Album

HonkMagazine

After stepping away from music for twenty years, Will Smith knew he had to return to rap with careful thought and honesty. With the music industry changing so fast, the Oscar-winning actor and hip-hop star wasn’t interested in releasing an album that felt out of touch or fake. That’s where two of the biggest names in rap, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, came in to help. In a recent interview, Smith shared that these influential rappers gave him important advice that shaped his new album, “Based on a True Story,” which marks his long-awaited return to music.

He first reached out to Jay-Z, who knows a lot about staying relevant in the music scene. Jay-Z told him, “Be true to your story.” He encouraged Smith not to pretend to be like younger artists but to share his own experiences. This became the foundation for the album’s title, it’s all about Smith’s real-life experiences, presented honestly. Rather than chase after current trends, he focused on what makes his story unique, ensuring his comeback feels real and significant. Next, he spoke with Kendrick Lamar, a modern rap superstar known for his deep lyrics and storytelling skills.

While Smith didn’t go into specifics about Kendrick’s advice, it inspired him to push himself creatively and to take risks with his music. For Will Smith, this new album isn’t just a trip down memory lane; it’s a new beginning. With guidance from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, he’s returning to music with authenticity and a fresh sense of purpose. Even after two decades away, with “Based on a True Story,” Will Smith shows that true artistry, rooted in genuine experiences, never goes out of style.

Artist Spotlight

Kaciny looks back at love, memory and loss with latest release “Rewind”

Kaciny

Kaciny’s latest release, “Rewind” is a deeply personal song about heartbreak, memory, and the desire to change what has already happened, laying bare the raw shock of a relationship ending. Whereas the end of a relationship is often something distant or easily explained, this track comes from a difficult place where memories are fresh, and the past can feel impossible to leave alone.

There’s something instantly relatable about the concept behind “Rewind.” When a relationship ends, the mind replays conversations, moments, and choices, imagining how things might have turned out differently. Kaciny takes that emotional instinct and makes it the center of the song, giving the track a personal quality that comes from facing the aftermath of love instead of acting as if it can just be forgotten.

“Rewind” feels grounded in the uncomfortable space between acceptance and a desire for another chance. Heartbreak is its subject, but the real power of this book comes from the memories that surround it and the human desire to rewrite an ending that hurts. Kaciny takes the final chapter of a relationship and turns it into a reflection of what we hold on to when someone is gone, writing a song that speaks to anyone who’s ever, even in a moment, wanted a rewind button in life.

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Artist Spotlight

Deaf Radio brings grit, movement and feeling with latest Album release “SHELTER”

Deaf Radio

Deaf Radio‘s latest album release, “SHELTER,” is an eight tracks album, driven by guitars, rhythm and a definite hunger for movement, with each song adding layers to the band’s sound. “SHELTER” opens with “Transmitter,” quickly setting a mood that revolves around ghostly synths, piano progressions and celestial vocals.

The lyric “Chasing a dream that makes no sense” adds another layer to the mysterious intro of the track, before the album heads in a faster, more urgent direction with “Idling.” The second track is powered by nice fast drums, bass, gritty guitar and synths, the chant “We’re never going to get away” providing a strong chorus moment. The band really comes into their own at 3:43 and you realize how much movement and groove they can bring into a track.

The title track “Shelter” goes another route, beginning quietly with bass and ambient sound, then the drums kick in. At 0:42 the whole band kicks in with action, professionalism and steadiness, giving the song a powerful lift around the lyric “Lay on my hands as the walls begin to fall”. Next is “Levitate,” with drums and picked bass guitar, creating the playful line “Celebrate all the small wins dancing near the crowded place.”

Then there’s the fifth track “All My Friends,” and the lyric “All my friends are busy with their own lives” into “oh how it feels to be looking through the glass.” A personal favorite, especially for it’s melody, acoustic and lead guitars and well handled drums. The album concludes with “Big Mistake,” “Tides” and “No Place Like Home,” with “Tides” leaving the biggest final impression. The guitar grit and rock attitude carries the listener along, repeating the energy Deaf Radio have carried throughout “SHELTER.”

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