*Celebrated music producer and singer-songwriter Ebonie Smith has released a new poetry album “On Imagination” featuring 12 poems performed by Black female cultural icons such as Roberta Flack, Valerie Simpson, U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, and Dr. Angela Y. Davis.
According to Billboard, citing the press package, the project’s premise was to “harness art’s transformative ability to turn grief into joy and resilience, honoring the tradition of music as a life-giving, affirmative revolutionary force while shining a light on language as a pathway to healing within the Black community.”
“On Imagination” also includes Dawn Richard, June Jordan, Gwendolyn Bennett, Phillis Wheatley, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Valerie June, Danyel Smith, Genesis Be, Lori Lightfoot, and Flyana Boss.
Smith stated, “The poems on this album are restorative. They helped me heal and re-center 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 [Migos member] Takeoff’s passing, 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.”
As Billboard reports, a standout track is “Fantasy,” written by Bennett and performed by Richards, accompanied by a dance piece choreographed by Francesca Harper, artistic director of Ailey II.
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“It was an absolute pleasure working with Dawn Richard, creating movement and collaborating with her on an anthem celebrating the resilience and power of women of color from the African diaspora,” said Harper.
Richard added, “19 years later I get to step through the doors of Ailey on my own terms. The last time I danced in Ailey’s theater was in [ABC/MTV reality series] Making the Band. To be back here and recreate a world of regality and beauty through femininity and empowerment makes this moment so special. It speaks to the power of womanhood and perseverance. You can shape your own dreams, tell the story you wish to tell and dare to imagine the possibilities you wish to create.”
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