Wordsmith's Portfolio

Work samples

Music for Mankind | Album Promo

Music for Mankind is more than an album—it’s a movement. A fusion of hip hop, jazz, spoken word an bluegrass created to uplift, inspire, and connect humanity.
Wordsmith + Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Network to Freedom (Movement 2)

You are about to explore the impact that primary source documents have on our understanding of history today through music. Lyrics from Wordsmith’s original song, Network to Freedom, will guide you through activities to understand this history better. For each movement, first watch the video and then complete the activities below.
Wordsmith - Making it to the Middle: A Journey of Purpose (TEDx Talk)

In this talk, Wordsmith discusses how he finds his purpose not from fame or notoriety, but simply from pursuing his passion as a musician who gives back. He answers the question, "Can you impact the world and be a successful musician without being famous?" Wordsmith is a Baltimore-based songwriter, performer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. His music has been featured in hit shows like Russian Doll (Netflix), Preacher (AMC TV), ESPN and WWE Programming. Wordsmith's partnership with the US Department of State has sent him to 11 countries over the past 4 years to hold major concerts, anti-bully and Hip Hop History Workshops for underprivileged youth. His non profit, Rise with a Purpose, Inc. is currently raising funds for a consistent music school in Baltimore City while his work as a cultural ambassador to Kids Connection Haiti and Project Plase bring attention to fighting homelessness.

About Anthony

Wordsmith is a songwriter, spoken word artist, recording artist, actor, playwright and philanthropist from Baltimore, MD.

He earned a full athletic scholarship to play football at Morgan State University studying radio, TV and Performing Arts. A transfer to Salisbury University 2 years later earned Wordsmith a Bachelor of Performing Arts Degree in 2002.

Wordsmith is a Grammy Voting Member,… more

Wordsmith releases Masterpiece Theater, September 16th, 2025

STREAM NOW

“Masterpiece Theater” is a reflection of the performance we often put on just to get through life. At its core, this album explores the masks people wear—the roles we play to fit in, be accepted, or hide our pain. So many are acting out a character, afraid to show the world who they truly are. But true freedom comes when you can take that mask off and live boldly in your truth. The underlying metaphor throughout the album is the story of Pinocchio—a puppet who dreams of becoming real. That’s so many of us: dreaming big, wanting authenticity, craving a real life, yet constantly choosing the easier route of deception, denial, or self-betrayal. We lie to the world, but worse, we lie to ourselves. Masterpiece Theater challenges that. It’s about reclaiming your identity, honoring your story, and being unapologetically you. Because the greatest performance isn’t the one that wins the crowd—it’s the one where you’re finally comfortable in your own skin. This is your invitation to stop playing a part and start living your truth.

– Wordsmith

Masterpiece Theater Cover

Wordsmith releases Music for Mankind, September 9th, 2025

STREAM NOW

“Music for Mankind” is more than an album—it’s a body of truth carved from struggle, resilience, and the desire to speak light into dark places. Some of this music lived in the world before now—echoing through live performances, woven into TV specials, carried by those who needed it in real time. A few songs were once available for streaming, others have never been released until now. And then, without warning or explanation, some of it vanished—taken down in silence. Do I wish there had been communication? Of course. But I’ve made peace—not just with what was lost, but with those I created this work alongside. Because the heart of this music still beats. It always did. None of us are perfect. We all carry our own wounds, our own reasons. Forgiveness has been essential on this journey. And I hope those I created this music with understand why I had to still release it. This isn’t about ego or credit—it’s about purpose. About honoring what was born in truth, in fire, in hope. About finishing what was started, for the people it was always meant to reach. This is music my son Zeke cherished—deeply. It was therapeutic for him, a lifeline in sound. It meant the world to him to assist with the audio during a small tour through California. In those moments, he wasn’t just helping—he was healing. He was soaking in every lyric, every chord, searching for calm in a mind too often at war with itself. His belief in this music, in what it stood for, gives me strength to keep going. To share it. To let it live. These songs are not just tracks. They are testimonies. They are conversations between pain and possibility. They are the voices of the unheard, the cries of the overlooked. They speak of racial injustice, school shootings, drug abuse, and the weight of judgment. They call for growth—in self, in system, in soul. “Music for Mankind” is for those still standing, still listening, still believing that art can move us closer to the world we dream of. One note at a time.

– Wordsmith

Music for Mankind Cover

Wordsmith debuts new classical commission with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, "Keep Going, No Matter What: The Reginald F. Lewis Motto"

MORE INFO

Reginald F. Lewis Museum is celebrating their 20th Anniversary with a performance from Wordsmith and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. This will mark the first time the BSO performs in the museum in it's 20 year history.

Wordsmith will be debuting an autobiographical piece, "Keep Going, No Matter What: The Reginald F. Lewis Motto," based on the life of Reginald F. Lewis.

Keep Going No Matter What Cover

B&O Railroad Museum & Wordsmith Launch the Next Phase of the Underground Railroad Exhibit: “Freedom Seekers on the B&O” with an Interactive Student Companion Website inspired by "Network to Freedom"

MORE INFO

On September 26th, The B&O Railroad Museum will unveil the "Legacy of the Underground Railroad" a Student Companion Website to the Museum’s Underground Railroad Exhibit: Freedom Seekers on the B&O. This website, located at is a dynamic and interactive website that introduces students to original source material about the Underground Railroad using performing arts. Specifically, each section of the website will be introduced to students and teachers with segments of an original song "Network to Freedom" written and composed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and their artist in residence, Wordsmith. Wordsmith will perform his original song, “Network to Freedom”, accompanied by select musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on September 26th at 1:00pm at the B&O Railroad Museum in a free one-hour community concert for students, teachers, and the general public.

“This website is the next phase of our Underground Railroad exhibit that can be used by teachers who visit the exhibit with their students as pre-and-post field trip curriculum as well as by teachers and students from around the world who may not have the chance to visit our historic site”, said Kris Hoellen, Executive Director of the B&O Railroad Museum. “We remain grateful to Wordsmith for writing a song that explains the Underground Railroad to students using a different medium – performing arts – and to connecting the relevancy of the Underground Railroad to students today.”

“My inspiration for the song was two-fold. With Baltimore being the home of American Railroading in the United States, I wanted to musically tell the world about our rich history, intimate real life stories of free slaves passing through the B&O, the importance of the underground railroad and an historical account of the railroads significance during the Civil War,” said Wordsmith.

At the heart of this innovative website is the original song "Network to Freedom" by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and their artist in residence, Wordsmith, which serves as a narrative guide through three distinct "movements" or sections of the site. Each movement provides a deep dive into aspects of the B&O Railroad’s role in Freedom Seekers’ travel along the Underground Railroad. Students will interact with the recorded performance, primary source documents, historic maps, and thought-provoking activities that illuminate the stories of courage, resilience, and hope that defined this critical period in American history.

Key Features of the Website:

Movement 1: Birthplace of American Railroading – This section introduces students to the origins of the B&O Railroad and its significant role in American history. Through interactive tasks, students will explore the railroad's early days and its impact on the nation's development.
Movement 2: Railroad of Hope – Focusing on the Underground Railroad, this movement examines how the B&O Railroad became a vital part of the network that helped enslaved individuals achieve their freedom. Students will uncover the hidden meanings in railroad terms, follow the paths of freedom seekers, and engage with historical accounts of daring ventures.
Movement 3: Roadmap to the Future – Students will explore the continuing legacy of the railroad into the 20th century, including the Great Migration and the role of African Americans in shaping the nation’s railroads. This section also highlights the struggles and triumphs of Black railroad workers, offering a comprehensive view of their contributions to American society.

Teacher Resources and Classroom Integration:

The website provides valuable resources for educators for grades 5 through 8, including lesson plans aligned with Maryland State Education Standards. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate these materials into their curriculum to enhance students' understanding of this pivotal era in American history.

Acknowledgments:

This project was made possible through the support of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Wordsmith. It also received a grant from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Visit the Website:

The "Legacy of the Underground Railroad" Student Companion Website is accessible at borail.info/students and is optimized for use on desktop computers for an immersive experience. Whether used in the classroom or at home, this resource offers a unique and engaging way for students to connect with history.

About the B&O Railroad Museum:

Located in Baltimore, MD, the B&O Railroad Museum is recognized as the birthplace of American railroading. It preserves and interprets the legacy of the railroad, highlighting its impact on the growth and development of the United States.

For more information, please visit www.borail.org

Wordsmith Introduction

You are about to explore the impact that primary source documents have on our understanding of history today through music. Lyrics from Wordsmith’s original song, Network to Freedom, will guide you through activities to understand this history better. For each movement, first watch the video and then complete the activities below.

Please note, this website is intended for use on a desktop computer. For the best experience, use this website in full screen or with a projector. Teachers are encouraged to visit our teacher resources below for ideas on how to maximize this website in the classroom.
Wordsmith - Network to Freedom Cover

Wordsmith Cast in Season 4 and 5 of the Tubi show "The Braxton's: The First Family"

MORE INFO

Praise and worship aren't the only things that's going on at The Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church. Secrets, lies, adultery, sibling rivalry, and other issues swarm the first family of the church as they try to keep their family dynasty together. Patricia the matriarch of the family as she navigates life as the First Lady of the Church and deals with infidelity, money laundering, murder, kidnapping, and more.

Braxton's

Kory Caudill & Wordsmith's "Concert for the Human Family" Premiers on Maryland Public Television

MORE INFO

Concerts for the Human Family, a new artistic collaboration led by The Episcopal Church and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry that explores “the powerful intersection between art, justice and faith,” will launch May 22 with a free digital broadcast filmed at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.

The inaugural concert, which pairs pianist, composer and musical director Kory Caudill of Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore-based hip-hop artist Wordsmith, will provide an uplifting journey through the human experience of love, grief, loss and hope – a musical commentary on social reckoning in the United States and a pandemic that has touched every corner of the world. The concert was filmed with special care to follow all safety guidelines outlined by the CDC.

Amplifying the work of local musicians in multiple cities, Concerts for the Human Family will feature original music and unique voices that span genres and cultures. Events are designed for audiences of all backgrounds and will take place in traditional concert venues, as well as landmark spaces across the U.S. affiliated with The Episcopal Church. The May event also incorporates From Many, One, an Episcopal project encouraging storytelling and conversations across difference.

“Concerts for the Human Family takes us to the powerful intersection of art, justice, and faith,” said the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, canon for evangelism, reconciliation, and care of creation in The Episcopal Church. “We know music is a catalyst for movements, so we began dreaming: What if diverse groups of artists made conscious music together in our holy spaces? How would that inspire us to pursue beloved community?”

In early 2019, a team of professional musicians, artists, creatives, mainstream music industry executives and church leaders gathered to begin dreaming about what such an initiative might look like. Drawing on The Episcopal Church’s vision for Becoming Beloved Community, which advances racial reconciliation and healing in and beyond the church, Caudill and his team began to shape a musical journey intended to stir listeners.

In addition to concerts, the music will be made available through albums featuring guest artists, musicians and producers. Each recording shares sacred stories of human experience from multiple perspectives, many of which originated from powerful conversations around reconciliation.

“This music is about the creation process as much as it is about finished albums or live events,” Caudill shared. “It’s about the conversations we have with one another, the trips we make to each other’s hometowns to learn about who we’re creating with, and the in-depth research into the topics we write about.”

Caudill continued, “We’re getting to know some incredible musicians who have important stories to tell. This project allows these folks’ art to reach large audiences without having to overcome typical hurdles associated with the music industry. Our only guideline is that we don’t record anything unless it has meaning.”

While spiritual in nature, the recordings and concerts are designed to resonate with audiences across faith traditions and those who claim no religious affiliation. Among the first musical releases due out in May 2021 is a collaboration between Caudill and Wordsmith. Topics covered in the album include Wordsmith’s personal experiences with racial profiling, the 2005 killing of British teen Anthony Walker, and Caudill’s prayers for a forgotten Appalachia.

MPT Cover
CFHF
Concert for the Human Family: Music, justice and faith - Movers & Makers

Wordsmith TEDx Talk "Making it to the Middle: A Journey of Purpose"

In this talk, Wordsmith discusses how he finds his purpose not from fame or notoriety, but simply from pursuing his passion as a musician who gives back. He answers the question, "Can you impact the world and be a successful musician without being famous?"

Making it to the Middle: A Journey of Purpose

Wordsmith - Music Licensing Placements

WWE - Bianca Belair Entrance Theme Song "We Do It Better"

AMC - Preacher: Season 4, Ep. 2 "Talking to the Most High"

Netflix - Russian Doll: Season 1, Ep. 2 "Get What You Love"

Netflix - The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 3, Ep. 6 "Never Be the Same"

France TV - Skam France: Season 2, Ep. 1 "Happy Hour the Universal Blackout"

NBA 2K21 Next Gen Soundtrack/Game "Fill the Space" and "Energy"

ESPN - Sportscenter in Review "Eye for the Spotlight"

ESPN - College Football Plays of the Week "Eye for the Spotlight"

Kawasaki - Z800 Commercial "As the Art Fades Away"

NFL Network - Top 100 Players of 2015 "On My Job"

Red Bull - BC One World Dance Finals "On My Job"

3 Seconds Behind the Wheel - PSA "Traffic Jammin"

Hollidaysburg - Movie "Happy Hour the Universal Black Out"

Nintendo - Mad World "Death & Honor"

Roadtrip Nation - Ready to Rise Documentary "Living Life Check to Check" and "Gems of Wisdom"

MV5BMzRjYzA2YzgtYmEyYy00YzZjLTkzMGEtMWQ1M2Y2MTA2ZjcwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQ2MDI5NjU@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg

Wordsmith - Albums

WORDSMITH ALBUMS

Bittersweet (2021) - Hip Hop/Pop/ House

Baltimore Revisited (2020) - Hip Hop/Jazz/Baltimore Club

Perspective Jukebox (2017) - Hip Hop/Pop - Winner Best Rap/Hip Hop Album 16th Independent Music Awards

Apt. 507 (2015) - Hip Hop/Jazz

The Blue Collar Recital (2013) - Hip Hop

King Noah (2013) - Hip Hop

Vintage Experience (2010) - Hip Hop