TBGB Pick of the Week: August 11, 2008

“Hater Day”
Canton Jones
From Kingdom Business
Arrow Records 2008
www.myspace.com/therealcantonjones

Canton Jones earns the Pick of the Week again.

On “Hater Day,” young gospel hip hop phenom Jones of Deerfield Beach, Florida reminds us of the Golden Rule and applies the “turn the other cheek” philosophy to the 21st Century. He urges us to spend a day (officially 08.08.08 but any day will work) treating our haters to lunch, giving them hugs, and performing a variety of generous gestures to make their life better.

Jones explained “Hater Day” to TBGB as a follow up to another of his songs, “Stay Saved,” which acknowledged the difficulties of being good and giving in the midst of rampant unkindness. “Sometimes, people are just using you to vent because they have gone through so much,” Jones said, “and when they get to work or school they have an attitude. But you never know what is going on with them at home. When you show love to that person, he or she might break down in your arms, and you can begin the healing process.”

Just as with “Stay Saved,” Jones uses “Hater Day” to acknowledge human weakness and prays he can keep his commitment to doing good and being kind. In a world that has seemingly lost all sense of civility and graciousness, doesn’t everyone feel this way sometimes? All this to a smooth, swaying beat that comes as close to being a rap while not being one. Another strong single in a string of gospel hits for Canton Jones.