‘On Imagination,’ Tribute Album to Women of Color Featuring Roberta Flack, Rep. Maxine Waters, Dawn Richard, More, Released by Atlantic
Atlantic Records has released a new project titled “On Imagination” — a tribute to women of color featuring singers-songwriters Roberta Flack, Valerie Simpson, Dawn Richard and Valerie June as well as Rep. Maxine Waters, author Danyel Smith, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others,
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Produced by singer-songwriter Ebonie Smith, the album features poetry by June Jordan, Gwendolyn Bennett, Phillis Wheatley, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and more brought to life by the above voices and more.
“On Imagination” was first unveiled in commemoration of Juneteenth with a special performance of June Jordan’s landmark 1982 poem, “Moving Towards Home,” read by activist-author Dr. Angela Y. Davis.
“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,” she continued, referencing the 2022 murder of Migos’ founding member, “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.”
TRACKLIST:
1. “Dare to Dream” (2022) – written by Genesis Briggs and performed by Genesis Be
2. “She Came Home Blameless” (1971) – written by Maya Angelou and performed by Roberta Flack and Valerie Simpson
3. “Calling Dreams” (1920) – written by Georgia Douglas Johnson and performed by Flyana Boss
4. “Songs For The People” (1895) – written by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and performed by Lori Lightfoot
5. “On Imagination” (1773) – written by Phillis Wheatley and performed by Danyel Smith
6. “Make My Name” (2023) – written by adrienne maree brown and performed by Representative Maxine Waters
7. “Douce Souvenance” (1920) – written by Jessie Redmon Fauset and performed by Ebonie Smith
8. “Double Standard” (1895) – written by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and performed by Divinity Roxx
9. “Fantasy” (1927) – written by Gwendolyn Benne and performed by Dawn Richard
10. “Moving Toward Home” (1982) – written by June Jordan and performed by Dr. Angela Y. Davis
11. “On the Death of a Gentlemen” (1773) – written by Phillis Wheatley and performed by Tarriona “Tank” Ball
12. “I Sit and Sew” (1918) – written by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson and performed by Valerie June
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