Beats Not Bullets is building an EMPIRE Behind ‘The Fence’
The Dream Bigger Community Institute (DBCI), located in Baltimore, Maryland is currently expanding its flagship initiative, the Beats Not Bullets (BNB) music program, which aims to increase Middle and High School age students’ knowledge of sound engineering and the recording industry. Participants graduate with improved awareness, attitude, and practice of using instruments, computer software, and audio equipment to create music and audio production.
Beats Not Bullets, the award-winning (SXSW Community Service Award) Baltimore-based music program, is celebrating its eighth year of operation in a major way, as BNB has become fully operational inside Baltimore City Correctional Facilities. Formally launching in The Metropolitan Transitional Center in November 2022, the Behind The Fence initiative of the program not only gives inmates a vital, therapeutic outlet and creative lifeline but continues to work with inmates upon their release, offering extensive free studio time and job placement services. This mirrors the fraternal nature of the school program in that graduation from high school or the program itself is often only the beginning for those who choose to stay close to BNB, a prominent example being program alumnus TayyBandz who has since launched her youth talent showcase (Be You) focused on positively impacting Baltimore’s youth.
Despite the program’s immense growth, Co-Founder and Director Kevin “Ogun” Beasley is already executing his vision on an even grander scale, recently announcing inking a Distribution Deal with the powerhouse music label and distribution company Empire, under Beasley’s newly created music imprint entitled “Real On Purpose.” This new partnership will offer inmates who complete programming the opportunity to release music commercially on a variable platform exposing them to entrepreneurship and the new world of music streaming; logically, music released through Real On Purpose will be distributed in the jails as well, which adds a full circle layer of hope for other inmates desiring a similar opportunity and outcome.
Poised for a massive 2024, the heart of the community-focused program remains the same: teaching youth the “ins and outs” of the music business while fostering creative thinking and problem-solving skills, invaluable for improving cognition and long-term decision-making. What started as a kernel of an idea, has transformed into a fully staffed operation supported by Dream Bigger Community Institute (DBCI) a 501(c)(3). Staffed with music industry professionals, BNB continues to provide participants the opportunity to experiment, practice, create, and record music using instruments, industry-standard computer software, and audio equipment.
The BNB curriculum is designed to educate participants on how to work efficiently and professionally in the entertainment and creative industries. Graduates will complete with strengths and qualifications in the following areas:
- Songwriting
- Music Production & Beat Making
- Studio Engineering
- Marketing & Promotions
- Professional Development
- Paid Studio Internships
- Life Skills Workshops
- Job Readiness & Workforce Development
To date, over 800 youth aged 12 to 24, have enjoyed the Beats Not Bullets concept. Graduates have independently produced musical projects, secured production placements, obtained internships with local recording studios, and made a positive impact on their families. Brandon Lackey, one of the programs coordinators and owner of Baltimore’s Lineup Room Recording Studios, has utilized program graduates as interns and even promoted them to his engineering staff.
While Beats Not Bullets has proven formidable as a collective, Beasley’s singular focus and selfless nature continue to be the program’s North Star. But whether it’s the heart of BNB’s momentous impact on Baltimore’s at-risk youth or Behind The Fence’s continuous expansion of resources offered to the re-entry population, Beasley’s intention stays the same, to encourage Baltimore to dream and to provide his city the resources to do so efficiently, a sentiment reverberating louder than ever with the birth of Real On Purpose: “My goal and overall personal mission statement is to help people to dream bigger. This new opportunity with EMPIRE is just another resource that we can offer to at-risk individuals as well as artists in our city in general. We look forward to releasing quality projects in 2024 and exposing what Baltimore has to offer to the world musically.” I can promise that if you aren’t all the way familiar with Beats Not Bullets, there’s never been a better time to tap in, follow Beats Not Bullets on Instagram, and move with the movement.
TweetAbout the Author
MC Bravado MC Bravado is an emcee/educator from Baltimore by way of New York. He's received noteworthy press across mediums, including but not limited to Billboard, Rolling Stone, HipHopDX, CBS, FOX, ABC, SiriusXM Shade45, Okayplayer, DJBooth, HotNewHipHop, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine, Earmilk, and REVOLT TV. Performing alongside or collaborating with the likes of Bone Thugs, Scarface, Joell Ortiz, Statik Selektah, & MANY more, Bravado is a veteran presence. No stranger to big stages (Warped Tour, A3C, SXSW), MC B is showing & proving his way to rarefied air. That being said, the former Baltimore city high school English teacher still keeps a leg in the classroom as program coordinator for nonprofit Music Education program Beats Not Bullets. He also co-owns Label Necklace, an independent record label that empowers & educates other creatives while running the label’s boutique PR branch.
