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When Future dropped Dirty Sprite 2 in 2015, the mixtape-turned-album didn’t just top charts—it crystallized a moment. The Atlanta rapper’s hypnotic flow and brooding production gave trap its defining anthem, and a decade later, the project’s influence still reverberates across hip-hop. Now, that same body of work is being reborn in a space no one could have predicted: the ballet stage.
On Friday, September 19, BAM’s historic Howard Gilman Opera House will host DS2 Remixed: The Ballet, a one-night-only performance presented in partnership with Grand Marnier. The evening reimagines Future’s first No. 1 album as a full-scale ballet, complete with an all-Black cast of dancers.
At the heart of the production is Emmy Award–winning choreographer Ebony Williams, a singular talent whose career has always blurred lines. The first Black American woman to dance with Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Williams also etched herself into pop culture history as one of the dancers in Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” video. Her gift for bridging classical technique and contemporary rhythm makes her uniquely suited to interpret Future’s sound.
Costumes designed by LaQuan Smith—known for his daring, high-glamour aesthetic—will give the dancers a fashion-forward edge, reinforcing the fusion of luxury, music, and style.
For Future, bringing Atlanta’s street-born energy to Brooklyn’s cultural epicenter is more than symbolic—it’s a recognition of hip-hop’s shared revolutionary spirit across cities.
“DS2 changed the game for me,” he reflected. “A decade later and you still feel that energy everywhere. To see a mixtape I made turned into a ballet with Grand Marnier, right here in NYC? That’s different. That’s legendary.”
The performance is part of Grand Marnier’s “Remix Your Legacy” campaign, which aligns seamlessly with BAM’s 166-year history of honoring Black artistry while pushing classical traditions into contemporary expression.
“This is the kind of bold work that truly excites us because it creates an organic opportunity for authentic engagement, audience cultivation, and to grow our ever-evolving community,” said Mari Ogino, BAM’s Director of Corporate Strategy.
DS2 Remixed: The Ballet promises an experiment in legacy, movement, and the power of hip-hop to rewrite the rules of art itself.
