The Mind Of Black Assets

Work samples

Being Black

This piece is a meditation disguised as a chant what started as a poem and challenge during covid with a simple structure but a truly expansive in meaning. Through repetition and affirmation, the poem transforms language into rhythm and rhythm into truth. The phrase “Being Black” becomes both a grounding and a celebration, looping like a mantra that insists on presence, pride, and recognizing who I am then loving who I am.
What appears simple in this piece unfolds as deeply intentional. Lines like " Color of my skin, Love this Melanin, It's the skin I'm in and I love it" operate as both self-love and resistance, reclaiming joy in a world that has historically tried to deny it. The repetition is not redundancy, it is ritual and sacred.
Why

This moment isn’t nostalgia. This moment is a mirror which speaks so often through my work. A reminder of what was and what still is. WHY is a song I wrote years ago addressed to America, through the body and voice of a Black queer artist. Who noticed that time has passed but the themes and feelings didn’t. Reimagined with the brilliance of Mykst Ancestree, Beautifully choreographed by Brittney London featuring Sade Morgan & Nia June, shot by Khamaree Owens & Katie Simbala, edited by Khamaree Owens. Written and performed by Ashley Yates, creatively known as Black Assets.
Inspired by the work of Darlene Cain and her organization Mothers on the Move and Mothers Against Gun Violence.
Soul's Grasp

About Ashley

Ashley Lakayla Yates, known by the stage name Black Assets, is a dynamic queer masculine-of-center vocalist and songwriter whose art reflects the lived experience of Black people in America. Born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, raised and based in Baltimore, Maryland, Black Assets blends gospel roots and blues grit with the pulse of rock and modern neo-soul but with “bounce”. An interdisciplinary, international recording artist, she has performed in over 20 countries, including Algiers, Taghit,… more

View Ashley's Resume

Red Rage Revelation

Adewummi pronounced {Ah-day-Woo-Mee} : emerges as a new facet of the artist known as Black Assets, a name rooted in reclamation, resistance, and creative power. As a multidisciplinary artist, Adewummi weaves together visual art, poetry, and sound to explore the depth of Black identity, memory, and ancestral reconnection.

Their debut exhibition, "RED | RAGE | REVELATION," is an immersive experience that speaks through texture, amplified sound, and striking monochromatic visuals. Each piece is an invocation, of fury, of truth, of rediscovery. Through this collection, Adewummi channels the lost and reclaimed heritage of their Nigerian ancestry, confronting the rupture caused by the Black experience in America while forging a path toward healing and reclamation.

For Adewummi, art is not just an expression, it is a tactile and sonic experience, a vessel for the voices that history sought to silence. Their work invites touch, demands engagement, and amplifies stories often left unheard.

This is more than an exhibition. This is a reckoning.

See Me Through The Masking

See Me Through the Masking is an unveiling, an exploration of raw texture and the truth that lives beneath layers. Anchored by the statement “Being Black is a Miraculous Thing,” the work reflects the lived realities of inhabiting this body, this skin, and this kinship: the obstacles faced, endured, and ultimately overcome.
After experiencing a year of adversity in a role I served for seven years as director, I stood up for myself and was met with abuse until I could no longer endure it. I transformed my termination letter into a tool of creation, using it as a paintbrush to build this series, transmuting that harm into texture, rage into revelation, and erasure into presence.
Under the Sun (Reprise) – The song, a sonic call to unity, power, and collective greatness.

Under the Sun
Have you ever looked in the mirror
Tell me what did you see Mirror Mirror
What did you see?
Was it a queen
Was beast
Was it a king
All things it could be
Ahhh Oh Ahhh Ahhh Oh Ahh
Was it a king
Was it a beast
Was it a Queen
All things it could be
Oh Yeah Yeah Ahhh
We are Gods
We are Love
It’s powerful
Basking Underneath the sun
We are God
We are Love
It’s Powerful
Basking Underneath the Sun
We’re living the impossible
All things I just gotta know
Believing every is beautiful
Both Struggles and Trials
Believing Everything is beautiful
Because you know from this you grow
Positivity and you’ll become
Dwelling well in your purpose now
We are Gods
We are Love
It’s powerful Basking
Underneath the sun
We are God
We are Love
Burning Words: Underneath The Sun

Burning Words: Under the Sun – A declaration of presence, of resilience, of standing in the light despite the weight of history, where language and texture merge into a visceral experience about the power of oneness.
Echoes and Embers

Echoes & Embers – Repeated statements, signifying lingering truths, scattered yet connected.

A Soul Stage- Founder

A Soul Stage Portforlio

A Soul Stage is an immersive, multi-sensory performance platform that transcends traditional boundaries of music, art, and storytelling. It’s a space where the raw essence of the Black experience is brought to life through soulful performances, visual art, and community engagement. With each event, "A Soul Stage" aims to create a profound connection between Blacks multidisciplinary mediums, the artists and the audience, fostering a shared journey of resilience, love, and truth.

A Soul Stage” seeks to amplify the voices of remarkable soul artists in Baltimore, connecting them to global opportunities and resources. As we look to expand on our previous success, our goal is to further elevate and champion the genre of soul music, continuing our tradition of partnering with local Black-owned businesses such as Adorn Vintage Furniture, Stem and Vine, Rebekah Rose, Gold Room Rehearsal Studio, Mama Koko’s, The Empanada Lady, Time Printers and more.

A Soul Stage: A Living Sahara Recap

A Soul Stage: A Living Sahara was born from my time creating music and engaging community in the Sahara Desert, specifically in the small town of Taghit. During this period, I wrote music and toured it throughout North Africa, including Bechar and Algiers. That time deeply affirmed my purpose and practice, grounding my work in both spirit and community.
The set design reflected the culture and landscape of the Sahara, the use of carpets inspired by traditional tapestries that provide both beauty and warmth, holding history, function, and care at once. The music, too, was honest and of the people, rooted in lived experience and collective rhythm.
This body of work and performance was fully encompassing, sound, texture, story, and place and bringing this vision to life was nothing short of a blessing and an honor.
OTR(OAD) - Live Performance

We began this journey in 2023 at the Patterson Theater. This clip features my song OTR (OAD), a reflection on life on the road and the stories gathered along the way.
The artists featured are some of my musician family: Teddy on drums, Tyler Moonlight on keys, Kimchi on bass, Pierre on guitar, Deon on auxiliary keys, Nay (aka Onyx) on background vocals (alto and tenor), and Ryanne on background vocals (soprano).
Set design was curated by me and featured pieces from Rebekah Rose, Stem and Vine, and Adorn Vintage Furniture.
A Soul Stage Photos
A Soul Stage Photos
A Soul Stage Photos
A Soul Stage Photos
A Soul Stage Photos
A Soul Stage Photos
A Soul Stage Photos

The Living Room Social- Founder

Who We Are

The Living Room Social is a platform for artist musicians and art lovers to come "Home" to enjoy art, music, people & positive vibrations while we curate and provide love language connective art and music, positive energy & soul for you and the community, in no better place than our "Living Room".

The Living Room Social is where creativity thrives, music resonates, and artistry flourishes. As an artist incubation station, music education space, artist management hub, and event curation business, we are more than just a venue, we are a vibrant community hub pulsating with positive energy and boundless inspiration.

We call the places we commune, our sanctuaries, where artists, musicians, and art enthusiasts alike converge to ignite their passions and forge meaningful connections. Here, amidst the eclectic rhythms and vibrant hues, we curate an immersive experience that transcends boundaries, inviting you to explore the depths of your creativity and bask in the beauty of human expression.

From intimate acoustic sessions to electrifying performances, from interactive workshops to curated exhibitions, every moment at The Living Room Social is infused with soul-stirring energy and boundless possibility. In our living room, everyone is family.

Our Current Challenges

As we navigate the path forward after the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Living Room Social stands resilient, yet mindful of the road ahead. Reinstating our vibrant community space amidst uncertain times has still been a journey marked by perseverance and adaptability. We've faced the daunting task of rebuilding connections, reigniting creativity, and restoring the heartbeat of our sanctuary. Which we have not been able to do.

But our challenges don't end there. Alongside our revival efforts, we must also contend with the ongoing need for vital funding and resources to sustain and thrive. As we strive to provide a nurturing environment for artists to grow, music education to flourish, and events to inspire, we recognize the importance of securing the support necessary to fuel our mission.

Despite the obstacles, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a haven where creativity knows no bounds and where the spirit of community thrives. With your support, we will overcome, adapt, and emerge stronger together. Join us as we write the next chapter of The Living Room Social's legacy which will be a testament to resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of art.