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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

Trashy Annie Drops a Grit-Soaked Masterpiece with “Let It Kill You”

Trashy Annie

“Let It Kill You,” a 12-track rock journey by Austin’s own Trashy Annie, is now out. It captures everything bold, gritty, and unapologetically honest about modern rock. Award-winning songwriter Annie Davis leads the band. They thrive on the beautiful clash of outlaw-country storytelling and explosive hard rock energy. This new record is their most daring work yet.

“Let It Kill You” is 38 minutes and 18 seconds long, taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster from heartbreak to redemption and chaos to clarity. It’s the sound of a band that won’t play it safe; instead, they choose to live and die by the fire of their art.

The album starts with loud guitars and vocals that cut through the noise, making it clear right away that Trashy Annie is a force in rock music. “Save Me” mixes the raw power of electric riffs with the vulnerability of soul-baring lyrics. “Some Strange” has a dark, bluesy swagger that oozes danger and desire. Then there’s “Sugar,” a sexy song that stands out because of its catchy hooks and Annie’s fierce, intoxicating voice.

Each song sounds like a page from Annie’s diary, written without fear, emotion, or editing. The band’s blend of country grit, classic rock chaos, and a modern edge makes “Let It Kill You” impossible to ignore. Trashy Annie was born during the pandemic and made in fire. She stands for the spirit of rebirth and rebellion. “Let It Kill You” is a way of life. It’s about going after your passion so hard that it could kill you, but doing it anyway because that’s what makes life real.

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Artist Spotlight

Roxy Rawson Finds Light in the Shadows with “I Found a Place in the Woods”

Roxy Rawson

Music is very sacred because it can convey both pain and peace simultaneously. Roxy Rawson‘s new single, “I Found a Place in the Woods,” does just that. This haunting, ethereal masterpiece by well-known composer Jherek Bischoff is out now on November 7th. It’s an emotional landscape made up of solitude, strength, and quiet rebirth. Roxy Rawson transforms folklore into a deeply personal story about her own journey through divorce and starting anew, inspired by the fairy tale “The Three Ravens.” The song takes you to a magical place where loss and healing meet, where grief slowly gives way to hope under the cover of old trees.

Bischoff’s production is both rich and delicate. It layers Rawson’s angelic voice over haunting strings and textures that seem to breathe with life. The song has an organic stillness to it, like being in the woods after a storm, when all you can hear is the rustling of leaves and the sound of your own heartbeat. Roxy’s voice is both weak and strong, like sunlight coming through branches after a long night. Every lyric feels like it was meant to be, and every pause makes you think. It’s the sound of finding yourself again in nature’s quiet embrace, a moment of giving up that turns into a song of survival.

Rawson doesn’t just give you a melody with “I Found a Place in the Woods.” She provides a safe place for you to go. It’s the kind of song that sticks with you long after it ends, like a memory of finding peace in the middle of chaos. This song is one of Roxy Rawson’s most personal and mighty works to date. It’s perfect for fans of ethereal storytelling, cinematic folk, and emotional honesty. It reminds us that beauty can flourish even in the face of loss, and that sometimes healing begins with simply finding a quiet place to be.

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