Bavu Blakes Tackles "Eddie Long" at SXSW

It was the headline that caught my attention: “Eddie Long at South by Southwest.”

In the immortal words of Liz Lemon: “What the what?!?”

Then I saw that it was a performance video by rapper/journalist/minister (and former Austinite) Bavu Blakes and it rocked me.

This is an excellent hip hop song for a couple of reasons:

It’s edgy.
Anyone following Bishop Eddie Long in the news lately will be immediately drawn in by the title and wonder what this MC has to say about a pastor accused of inappropriate sexual relationships with young men under his leadership.

It’s layered.
It may take a few listens, but catch what Blakes is really saying. It may not be what you thought after the first run through.

It offers something of value.
Again, back to the message – here, the poet is encouraging self introspection and leading by example by taking Jesus' words in John 8:7 to heart.

"When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

But what are your thoughts?

Should the legal troubles of a highly-visible public minister like Bishop Long be a topic of modern music?

Do those within the Christian faith have a right to "throw stones" at someone like Bishop Long given the serious nature of these accusations?