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Danville group creating positive outlets
Danville group creating positive outlets
Catherine Amos camos@registerbee.com
Christian (left) and Jordan Price wait to perform as backup dancers in G.S. 800’s “Dem Not Hot” video shoot on Green Street in Danville Saturday afternoon. The entertainment production company seeks to promote and provide entertainment and positive outlets.
By Catherine Amos
Published: May 20, 2010
Updated: May 21, 2010
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Beneath the aliases, Swagga and Unxxpected are just a couple of Danville natives trying to create positive entertainment outlets for city youth, beginning with Green Street.
Swagga, or Jessie Holland Jr., and Unxxpected, or Michael Smith (also known as “Smitty”), own the entertainment production company G.S. 800, which represents the 800 block area of Green Street in Danville — where Holland grew up. Holland, Smith, local performer Monica "Itty Bop" Watkins and Wayne "V1" Waller and others gathered on Green Street in the stagnant heat Saturday afternoon to record a video for their latest project, “Dem Not Hot.”
After presenting the city with petitions from the residents of the 700 block of East Green Street, the group blocked the street off between 3 and 7 p.m. for “Mayday on Da Grill,” a block party for their video shoot. Neighbors and video extras gathered with their grills and refreshments to support the project.
“It’s something we’re trying to do to involve the whole community,” Smith said. “Maybe have this like a stepping stone for the youth. They can see what’s out there — something positive. There’s nothing for these youth to do here.”
The group, which also includes vocalist Vibe (Wayne Waller) has performed in area clubs and competitions, such as HuHu Entertainment’s “It’s Showtime at the Apollo” contests.
“There’s another way of life than what’s portrayed on T.V.,” Smith said. “It’s really that simple. No gimmicks to it. Everything’s original.”
Brothers Christian and Jordan Price, both wearing black shirts reading, “Haterz: Dem Not Hot,” waited in the hot sun for the video shoot Saturday afternoon. Both were serving as backup dancers.
Christian, 15, acknowledged the pressures for kids his age to be involved in less positive activities. He said dancing comes naturally to him and wants to save his money to open a dance studio and teach other kids to dance.
“I got plenty of friends I wanna keep away from all the trouble,” Christian said. “I wanna keep them away from the police.”
Jordan agreed, saying it was fun just to get out of the house.
“My thing is I wanna help the planet,” Jordan said. “People are so crazy. They need to not hurt people and litter. It’s pretty bad for people to litter.”
Christian nodded while his younger brother spoke. He said they lived on the north side of Danville.
“Growing up in a dangerous neighborhood,” Christian said, “we learn things like that.”
Holland described the song as a community song, bringing the people together in a neighborhood.
“There’s been a lot of negativity in this area,” Holland said. “We just want to do some positive things.”
G.S. 800 Entertainment
Jessie Holland and Mike Smith
http://www.myspace.com/gs800
Contact: Holland at (434) 728-3375 or jayswagga@yahoo.com
- Danville Register And Bee
Discography
dem not hot
aint what it seems
cruisen
cutty buddy
coming soon to radio.
Photos