Jamal Cyrus
“Misconstrued Rap Lyric #1” draws upon one of Cyrus’s own personal experiences and misconceptions. The artist was staying at Howard University and one evening overheard a rap song which he thought included the lyric, “I’m like Martin Luther King on the triple beam.” However, after further research, Cyrus discovered that this lyric did not actually exist; hence, it was a misconstrued lyric. The artist used this experience as inspiration for making the work, which consists of a plaster bust of Martin Luther King and a triple beam scale, both of which are found materials.
Provenance
From the artist's studio; The Menil Collection, Gift of Marlene Marker
Exhibitions
Jamal Cyrus "The End of My Beginning", Blaffer Art Museum, University of Houston, Houston, TX June 5 – September 29, 2021; Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, February 5 – May 29, 2022; Mississippi Museum of Art, October 29, 2022- March 5, 2023
Jamal Cyrus: Currents and Currencies, Inman Gallery, Houston, TX, November 8, 2019-January 11, 2020