Jackson Free Press

Bruh. Sylvester: "Welcome to my art exhibit titled 'Talkin' 'Bout the Ghetto and Other Stuff,' sponsored by the Ghetto Science Team's Museum of Natural History, Science, Art, Urban Mythology and Culture. Although I'm known for my seasonal creations of 'Christmas Missing-Toe Art,' I want to share with the arts community four of my latest works.

"First is an oil-on-canvas painting titled 'Making a Point by Giving the Finger.' It's a face-to-face profile portrait of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in a heated debate regarding which president failed in preventing the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Second is an uplifting water-color painting titled 'Happy Days Are Here Again: We Can Afford High Blood Pressure Pills and Diabetic Supplies Again.' This painting shows several senior citizens and afflicted individuals joyfully skipping and/or riding their motor-scooter chairs to the nearest Wal-Mart—during the blue light sale—to stock up on needed medications.

"Third is an abstract painting titled 'Anticipation Is Making Us Wait on Our Social Security Checks.' It's my mental snapshot of three individuals sitting on a front porch patiently waiting for their current source of income through the mail.

"My fourth painting is a social commentary about how liberal religion has become. It shows a marching band led by majorettes doing 'Beyonce's Booty Dance' to a contemporary gospel song. This water color painting is titled: 'Drop It Like It's Hot for Jesus.'"

Previous Comments

ID

73630

Comment

Ken, you gonna go to hell for that last painting. LW and will be praying for you. What good commentary on social issues and events 'cept for that last one. I recently allowed a strong christian person to hear the popular song, "Im Gonna Whip Somebody's Ass", performed in a glorious gospel style, and that person got mad at me for liking the song. In case you don't know about the song, a disc jockey got a call from his daughter complaining about people bothering her on her job. He sent her the song telling her, more or less, to start singing it whenever she deems it appropriate. The lyrics are simple and beautiful to hear. Here they are: I'm gonna whip somebody ass. I'm gonna whip somebody's ass. If you don't leave me along, you gonna have to send me home, because I'm about to whip somebody's ass. The writer/author went on to say if you couldn't keep singing it, just hum it, and the people will still get the message and leave you along.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-10-05T14:05:16-06:00

ID

73631

Comment

"Drop It Like It's Hot for Jesus" just might be the funniest phrase I've read all day. I'm also pretty sure that's the first time that particular sequence of words has ever been written or uttered. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-10-06T23:08:19-06:00

ID

73632

Comment

I think the phrase "Drop It Like It's Hot for Jesus" may contain quite a few meanings. Bruh Sylvester's last commentary was inspired by The Battle of the Bands event about two Sundays ago in Jackson. The event featured marching bands playing mostly r&b/contemporary songs. But he strange thing about this event was that it featured a gospel artist. This event was a combination of secular and gospel music. This is why I came up with the phrase:"Drop It Like It's Hot for Jesus." For me, it became a unorthodox phrase meaning: "There's a time and place for everything under the sun."

Author

Stiggers

Date

2006-10-07T21:09:45-06:00

ID

73633

Comment

For me, it became a unorthodox phrase meaning: "There's a time and place for everything under the sun." That's in Ecclesiates. :-) I agree - limits should be set. You don't have to go that far to attempt to attract converts. Man, if the dance ministry at my church even ATTEMPTED to drop it like it's hot in church, we would no longer have a dance ministry! It's supposed to be worship, not seduction.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-10-07T23:00:11-06:00

ID

73634

Comment

Man, if the dance ministry at my church even ATTEMPTED to drop it like it's hot in church, we would no longer have a dance ministry! It's supposed to be worship, not seduction. Absolutely, Sis L.W. Thank you.

Author

Stiggers

Date

2006-10-08T22:26:09-06:00

ID

73635

Comment

Ken, you probably know this already, but one of the arguments made against soul music early on--Ray Charles, in particular, was a target of this--was that it essentially took churchy-style music and made it about love and sex. John Donne did much the same thing, in reverse--spent his early career writing about eros and his later career writing about agape in exactly the same way, right down to the way he used imagery. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-10-08T22:50:10-06:00

ID

73636

Comment

(By the way, if anyone's asking, I like the Ray Charles/soul track better. Maybe I'm a bad person, but human love has always meant more to me than any of my religious beliefs or spirituality...)

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-10-08T23:42:02-06:00

ID

73637

Comment

To add to your statement,Tom, some of the finest soul and R&B musicians came from the black church. I see, as did Bruh Sylvester, a bit of irony when contemporary meets spiritual.

Author

Stiggers

Date

2006-10-09T23:09:38-06:00

ID

73638

Comment

In addition to what I already said, I think that if the focus remains on praise and worship, things won't go in the wrong direction. There are some good examples of this. I watched Tye Tribbett & G.A. in concert on DVD yesterday, and it was AWESOME. High energy, enthusiasm, great lyrics and choreography - I had a hard time keeping my seat. The African influence was very strong in their performance. Tom, love is the biggest component of spirituality, so there ain't nuthin' wrong with what you said. BTW, I like Ray Charles too. Couldn't anyone sing "America the Beautiful" like he did. :-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-10-09T23:40:44-06:00