Biography
Amani "Burt Blackarach" Smith is a sonic powerhouse-a music supervisor, composer, music producer, DJ, and music publisher whose fingerprints are stamped across stadiums, movie and TV screens, streaming platforms, and global airwaves.
As an award-winning music supervisor, Burt has shaped the soundtracks of culture, elevating projects for ABC, Nat Geo, HBO, FOX, Netflix, and beyond. His ear and instincts have been recognized on Netflix’s 2026 Oscar-nominated The Perfect Neighbor, where it held the position of most watched movie in the U.S. within days of its release, the Oscar short-listed Stamped From The Beginning (Netflix) by Roger Ross Williams and Mara Brock-Akil, Lee Daniels and Saladin Patterson’s re-imagining of The Wonder Years (ABC), and Genius: MLK/X (Nat Geo) from Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood.
What makes Burt one-of-a-kind is his ability to wear two hats at once-music supervisor and composer. This includes Michael Jai White’s Trouble Man, Showtime’s Passion Play: Russell Westbrook, and Vice TV’s Running While Black -a groundbreaking project with adidas and Religion of Sports where he co-wrote the Main Title with Public Enemy’s Chuck D. His compositions have also powered the visions of James Cameron, Brian Grazer, Will Gluck, and Ryan Murphy.
For more than two decades, Burt has collaborated with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Public Enemy frontman, Chuck D, together, co-writing for Public Enemy albums and creating original music and theme songs for The ESPY Awards, The X Games, Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN's Home Run Derby and LeBron James’ Shut Up and Dribble.
As a producer and DJ, Burt’s range is electric. He’s worked with everyone from Aerosmith to Andre 3000, and has rocked stages across the globe-opening for legends like Prince, Jay-Z and Nas. His signature scratches cut through songs by Kelly Clarkson, Method Man, and Public Enemy, blockbuster soundtracks, and national ad campaigns-including American Express and Chevron’s Super Bowl spots.
Never one to keep the magic to himself, Burt created the Airbnb top Experience "Be A DJ For A Day"-a first-of-its-kind, hands-on one-hour adventure where anyone can step behind the turntables and feel the rush of DJing, no experience required.
At the heart of it all, Burt champions legacy. He carries forward Salamani Music Publishing, the pioneering Black-owned publishing house founded by his parents in 1971. Its catalog has been sampled and celebrated by J Dilla, D’Angelo, A$AP Rocky, DJ Premier, Dionne Warwick, Maurice White, Chaka Khan, and Etta James.
Bringing this publishing catalog to life, Burt created UnShazamable-his electrifying one-man show where he DJs, rhymes, and shares untold stories while spinning unreleased gems from Salamani’s vault and its legendary circle of friends including Bob Dylan, Rick James, Toto and David Foster. It’s history, performance, and storytelling rolled into one-a living bridge between generations of sound.
