Overview:
Hip-hop icon Cheryl “Salt” James joined the Texas Supremacy of Music & Arts Conservatory’s Revive the Culture stepshow in South Dallas, which celebrated youth, unity, and the power of the arts. The event featured Texas-based youth teams competing for cash prizes, and James served as a guest judge. She also discussed her latest book and new single, “Salty and Lit,” which is inspired by Matthew 5:13 and promotes positive energy and faith. The event was a reminder that hip-hop can uplift and affirm, and that stepping is more than just performance, but also history, discipline, and collective storytelling.
Krystal Lindsey contributed to this reporting.
South Dallas showed up and showed out Saturday as the Texas Supremacy of Music & Arts Conservatory hosted its Revive the Culture stepshow at South Oak Cliff High School.
Founded by Grammy Award-winning band director William D. Allen, TSMAC centers its programming on urban performing arts and HBCU traditions: from marching band and dance to cheer, step and music therapy. This year’s competition, featuring Texas-based youth teams vying for cash prizes for their respective groups, felt less like a contest and more like a cultural homecoming.
Celebrity judges included hip-hop icon Cheryl “Salt” James, who served as a guest judge and later sat down exclusively with Dallas Weekly to discuss the competition’s featured young talents, her latest book, Mental Health Matters: Breaking The Silence, Igniting Hope, and Redefining Wellness , and the release of her new single titled ‘Salty and Lit.’
“Salty and Lit”: Faith, Hip-Hop and Positive Energy
In addition to celebrating youth culture in South Dallas, Cheryl “Salt” James shared details about her newest single, “Salty and Lit,” a high-energy 2025 hip-hop track inspired by Matthew 5:13 and rooted in unapologetic faith and confidence.
James explained the heart behind the record:
“Salty and lit is based on “‘We are the salt of the earth’ from Matthew 5:13. It’s saying we are salt and light, right? You should never hide your light under a bowl, put it on the stand for the whole world to see and glorify your God in heaven, right? Because he gave us these gifts. So I made it hip hop. I made Salt and Light, salty and lit.”
For James, the single is both personal and purposeful.
“It’s just me doing a solo thing, celebrating life, celebrating love, celebrating God, celebrating community, and just putting some positive energy out there,” she elaborated. “Hip hop has gotten very dark, very dark, you know, and this “Auntie” is still listening to music!”
Much like Revive the Culture itself, “Salty and Lit” is a reminder that hip-hop can uplift, affirm and shine light.
A Celebration of Unity and Culture
From synchronized footwork to booming chants that shook the auditorium, the energy inside South Oak Cliff High was undeniable. Parents packed the seats. Teens took the stage with precision and pride.
James summed up the afternoon simply:
“It was great. It was so much fun watching the kids, whatever keeps them busy and out of trouble,” she laughs. “I’m for it. I love it. The unity, the community, the parents showing up, and they did a great job. They worked really hard.”
It was her first time collaborating with TSMAC.
“I love what they’re doing,” she said.
The nonprofit’s focus on culturally rooted arts education and HBCU traditions was on full display- a reminder that stepping is more than performance. It is history, discipline and collective storytelling passed down through generations.
Creativity as Healing
Beyond choreography and competition, the conversation turned to mental health.
James spoke candidly about trauma and stigma in Black communities.
“There’s a stigma on mental health that we’re trying to get rid of. Yeah, it’s kind of corny and played out like, you know, come on, y’all, we got to talk to each other. We got to be vulnerable with people that we trust, support each other, people out here suffering on their own.”
James’ co-author on her latest novel, an anthology titled “Mental Health Matters: Breaking The Silence, Igniting Hope, and Redefining Wellness,” is mental health advocate and visionary Million Heir-Williams. Williams emphasized the need for safe spaces and emotional regulation:
“[In] being vulnerable, you have to have a safe place. And when people feel safe, they can then emerge those fears and those triggers… There’s a thing called emotional regulation, so people don’t just fall out every time. [It allows one to] step back, take a couple minutes to breathe.”
At Revive the Culture, that safe space looked like rhythm, teamwork and community affirmation.
From the Stage to the Ballot
As the interview closed, Dallas Weekly asked James to share a voting memory as part of our Streets and Seats series and civic engagement campaign.
Her answer centered on family.
“When my kids started voting, [I remember] going with them when they became of age. We always made it a big deal for the whole family to go together and celebrate them voting. [That was] to instill in them that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
Williams, a former county commissioner, stressed the importance of local elections:
“Everybody votes for the presidential election, but local voting, people can stay home, and that’s where your local government is voting on different ordinances that are happening in your district.”
As Revive the Culture proved, what happens in South Dallas matters. What happens at the ballot box does, too. Check out the latest installment of Dallas Weekly’s “Streets and Seats,” and make a plan to vote early.
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