Victoria Ibek Teams Up With Poo Bear for an Afro-Pop Celebration on “Oh Beautiful (Gotta Be Us)”

November 13, 2026 - Singer, songwriter and producer Victoria Ibek releases "Oh Beautiful (Gotta Be Us)" today, bringing her blend of Afro-pop, R&B and dance to Be The People 's invitation for Americans to step up and make a difference where they live. Produced by three-time GRAMMY®-nominated producer and songwriter Poo Bear , the track follows Ibek's selection as the winner of the nationwide #BeThePeopleOpenCall, which invited creators to remix, reimagine and reinterpret the original anthem, "Gotta Be Us (Be The People)."

Listen to "Oh Beautiful (Gotta Be Us)."

Chosen from more than 4,000 creators who submitted nearly 7,000 videos from all 50 states, Ibek made the song her own with new lyrics, Nigerian musical influences and nostalgic '90s R&B. The new recording, co-produced by Poo Bear and Alex Csillag and co-written by Ibek, Poo Bear and Csillag, takes "Gotta Be Us" somewhere more personal: the bravery of believing each of us can make a difference. Written to everyday people, it starts with the hardest person to convince, yourself, and with the courage to stop waiting for someone else to show up. As she sings, "A standing ovation / From a room of your fears / Feels better than waiting / For help to appear."

"It's an incredible opportunity to work with Poo Bear and Be The People to carry the message of 'Gotta Be Us' forward," says Ibek. "The first line I wrote for this song was me giving myself permission to be bold, and that's really what 'Oh Beautiful' is about. It's easy to get bogged down in what you can't do, but it all starts with one person. You have to start with yourself and know what you want to see differently. Then one thing happens after another, and it becomes a domino effect. Now that it's out in the world, I want people dancing to it, but more than anything, I genuinely want it to help people believe in themselves and the power they have to shape the world around them."

"Victoria took the heart of 'Gotta Be Us' and made it personal," said Poo Bear. "She brought her own sound, her own story and a message about finding the courage to believe you can make a difference. That's exactly what we hoped would happen when we invited artists to make this song their own."

Born in Charlotte and based in Los Angeles, Ibek draws on six formative years spent living in her mother's native Nigeria. A multidisciplinary artist who writes, produces, mixes and masters her own music, she blends pop, R&B, hip-hop and dance with rhythms shaped by that experience. Earlier this year, SPIN named her "One to Watch" in 2026 .

Her connection to the song's message extends beyond her work as an artist. Ibek has worked with children with disabilities, using music and the ukulele to help positively impact the lives of young people.

"From the beginning, 'Gotta Be Us' was never meant to belong to any one artist. It was an invitation for people to bring their own voice and experiences to something meaningful," said Elena Dussaq, president of Bigger Picture, the nonprofit organization behind Be The People. "Victoria took this song and made it entirely her own. Her story is a reminder that there's no one way to make a difference. We all have something to offer, and sometimes we just need an invitation to get started."

The Open Call launched in June following the release of "Gotta Be Us (Be The People)," co-written and produced by Poo Bear and featuring Momo Boyd, Trevor Jackson, Smino, Sadie Rose Van, Luke Borchelt and the VCU Black Awakening Choir. Bringing together voices across R&B, country, soul, pop and hip-hop, the original recording introduced a shared invitation: each of us has a role to play in shaping the future of our communities

The Open Call extended that invitation to creators nationwide. Ibek was selected by a jury of music and entertainment leaders from Columbia Records, UTA, Kobalt Music, 7S Management and Klein Fine & Spector, P.C., alongside Poo Bear. Her prize includes a professionally produced recording, release support from Be The People and mentorship from the judges.

ABOUT BE THE PEOPLE

Be The People puts a name to a nationwide movement to reignite the American spirit and help ensure the next 250 years are even better than the last by helping Americans do what they do best - roll up their sleeves and solve problems in their communities. Supported by a broad coalition of organizations, businesses, philanthropies, artists, athletes, and faith and cultural leaders, Be The People is bringing together thousands of proven, community-led solutions into a shared problem-solving platform that shows Americans how to contribute and make a difference where they live.

BeThePeople.org • Instagram • TikTok

For more information, contact Shore Fire Media: [email protected]