Willow Smith has quietly delivered her most adventurous musical statement yet with the release of Petal Rock Black, her seventh studio album, which arrived on February 17, 2026, via Three Six Zero Recordings. The project arrives less than two years after her previous album, Empathogen, and reflects Willow’s commitment to artistic evolution blending experimental jazz, rock, funk and spiritual soundscapes into a deeply personal body of work. 

On Petal Rock Black, Willow wrote, produced, and performed the album largely on her own, playing instruments including guitar, piano and drums. She spent more than 18 months crafting the record, which she describes as a tribute to creativity, community and the labor of artistic creation. The sound leans heavily on live instrumentation and unconventional arrangements, signaling her shift away from mainstream pop structures toward more experimental expression. 

The album includes collaborations with legendary figures like George Clinton, avant-jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, and the experimental duo Tune-Yards, adding depth and texture to the record’s sonic palette. Tracks such as the title song “Petal Rock Black” and others highlight the breadth of influences and the freedom Willow embraces as a composer and bandleader. 

Early responses from music communities reflect a mix of admiration and debate, with some fans praising her bold experimentation while others note the album’s abstract, genre-defying nature, a testament to Willow’s unpredictable artistic path. 

With Petal Rock Black, Willow continues to reinvent her identity in music, forging a path that values creativity and exploration above conventional expectations a move that keeps her work fresh, challenging and deeply rooted in personal expression.