PHOTO CREDIT: TOSIN GBADAMOSI
WRITTEN AND READ BY ARTIST/ACTIVIST GENESIS BE
“DARE TO DREAM” HERALDS MILESTONE SPOKEN WORD PROJECT, ON IMAGINATION, PRODUCED BY AWARD-WINNING MUSIC PRODUCER EBONIE SMITH
ON IMAGINATION ARRIVES VIA ATLANTIC RECORDS ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
Atlantic Records is proud to share “Dare To Dream,” written and read by renowned public speaker, performer, artist, and activist Genesis Be – arriving alongside an official content piece. Produced by award-winning music producer, audio engineer, and singer-songwriter Ebonie Smith, the moving spoken word performance heralds the upcoming release of a milestone new project, On Imagination, arriving via Atlantic Records on Friday, August 16. Pre-orders are available now HERE.
On Imagination was first unveiled last month in commemoration of Juneteenth with a very special performance of June Jordan’s landmark 1982 poem, “Moving Towards Home,” read by noted political activist, educator, and author Dr. Angela Y. Davis. An official lyric visual is streaming now via YouTube HERE.
“The poems on this album are restorative,” says Ebonie Smith. “They helped me heal and recenter after Covid. The language is challenging, requiring the listener to work for a deeper understanding, but those who make the effort will find the words of these poets truly powerful and transformative. In the wake of Takeoff’s passing (of Migos), I turned to these poems to help me heal and make sense of the deaths occurring in and around hip-hop culture. The language on this album helped me find strength during that time.”
ABOUT GENESIS BE:
Genesis Be, a dynamic artist and activist, harnesses the power of music to amplify marginalized voices and advocate for social change. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, her music blends elements of hip-hop, soul, and spoken word, creating a powerful platform for storytelling and empowerment. With lyrics that confront systemic oppression and celebrate resilience, Be’s artistry transcends entertainment, serving as a catalyst for dialogue and action. As an outspoken advocate for racial and gender equality, she was an outspoken creative who lobbied to have the Confederate flag removed from the design of the Mississippi state flag. Through her music and activism, Be continues to inspire and ignite conversations that resonate far beyond the stage. She creates original paintings, poetry and music under her ever growing collection, People Not Things. She is the subject of the documentary, Mississippi Turning, and continues the fight to improve race relations in her home state Mississippi.
“My goal is to bring human dignity to the forefront of our divided World,” says Genesis Be. “To advocate for compassion, vulnerability and the burning need for freedom. Every word is born from unapologetic love, permission to be all of me and every painting is a nod to my inner child. With all her simplicity and complexity, I make space for the entire World. I believe in the good of humanity with all my heart though she has broken it many times. Consider this my small contribution, to move the unmovable, to tell the truth through hands clasped over ears, to nudge out what little space I can so that the next lover may thrive. People Not Things forever and ever.”
For more, please visit genesisbe.com.
ABOUT EBONIE SMITH:
Ebonie Smith is an award-winning music producer, audio engineer, and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA and Memphis, TN. Smith is also the founder and president of Gender Amplified, Inc., an organization that celebrates and supports women and girls in music production and audio engineering. Smith received her first GRAMMY® Award certificate and RIAA-certified Platinum plaque for work as an assistant engineer on Atlantic Records’ historic Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), followed by a second GRAMMY® Award certificate for work as an assistant engineer on Sturgill Simpson’s 2016 album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. Smith also engineered on the GRAMMY®-nominated album Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe and the GRAMMY® Award-winning album Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B. She currently works as an in-house engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. She is also an elected governor of the New York Chapter of The Recording Academy and is the current Co-Chair of the Producers & Engineers Wing.
Smith holds a master’s degree in Music Technology from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University. While in college, Smith received training at Columbia University’s Computer Music Center and studied abroad in the West African nation of Cameroon. During her five-month stay there, she performed with bands, worked in studios, and produced local artists.
For more, please visit www.eboniesmith.com.
