Celebrating life through the lens of contemporary African American poetry and lyricism is the creative force behind Atlantic Records’ new album. About imagination. Produced by award-winning music producer, engineer and singer-songwriter Ebonie Smith, the project features 12 poems performed by legendary Black artists and cultural icons such as Roberta Flack, Valerie Simpson, U.S. Representative Maxine Waters and Dr. Angela Y. Davis.

June Jordan, Gwendolyn Bennett, Phillis Wheatley and Georgia Douglas Johnson are among the distinguished poets whose works will be presented in the new project. As in About imaginationAccording to the press kit, the premise was to “harness the transformative ability of art to transform grief into joy and resilience, honoring the tradition of music as a life-giving, positive revolutionary force while foregrounding language as a path to healing within the black community.”

Available now, About imagination was first unveiled to commemorate this year’s Juneteenth celebration, where Dr. Angela Y. Davis recited Jordan’s 1982 poem “Moving Towards Home.” Performers on the full album also include Valerie June, Danyel Smith, Genesis Be, Lori Lightfoot, and Flyana Boss.

Smith currently serves as Atlantic’s in-house engineer and producer and has also worked on previous projects such as Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)Sturgill Simpson A Seaman’s Handbook to EarthJanelle Monáes Dirty computer and Cardi B’s Grammy-winning Violation of privacy.

When announcing About imaginationSmith explained at the beginning of the album, “The poems on this album are restorative. They helped me heal and re-center after COVID. The language is challenging and requires the listener to make an effort to understand deeper, but those who make the effort will find the words of these poets truly powerful and transformative. After the death of (Migos member) Takeoff, I turned to these poems to heal and understand the deaths in and around hip-hop culture. The language on this album helped me find strength during this time.”

Another notable track on the album is “Fantasy,” written by Bennett and performed by artist Dawn Richard. It is accompanied by a dance piece choreographed by Ailey II artistic director Francesca Harper and filmed in collaboration with Richard and Ailey II alumni. Maya Finman-Palmer, Brena K. Thomas and Maggy van den Heuvel with Ailey School alumnus Raven Joseph. The “Fantasy” video was shot at Ailey’s home, the Joan Weill Center for Dance.

Richard commented: “19 years later, I can walk through the doors of Ailey on my own terms. The last time I danced in Ailey’s theater was in (ABC/MTV reality series) The founding of the band. Being back here and recreating a world of majesty and beauty through femininity and empowerment is what makes this moment so special. It speaks to the power of femininity and perseverance. You can create your own dreams, tell the story you want to tell and dare to imagine the possibilities you want to create.”

“It has been such a joy to collaborate with Dawn Richard, create movement and work with her on an anthem that celebrates the resilience and strength of women of color from the African diaspora,” Harper added. “As Ailey stands on the shoulders of our founder Alvin Ailey, who recognized the importance of using dance as a tool for change, we are honored to partner with Atlantic Records on this milestone project that serves as a testament to the power of art in our lives.”