Bruno Baptistelli, Brazilian, born 1985; Memento, 2020-22; gold grills; 13/16 x 1 5/8 x 1/2 inches; Courtesy of the artist 2023.247; © Bruno Baptistelli
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Gallery Text
Bruno Baptistelli,
born Sao Paulo, Brazil 1985Memento, original cast 2020-2022; this cast 2023
gold-plated silverUsing his own teeth as the mold for this gold-plated grill, Brazilian-based artist Bruno Baptistelli placed himself into the long history of cosmetic dentistry. By mounting and covering the grill with a vitrine, the artist treats gold teeth with reverence. The title of this work reinforces this notion, evoking the phrase memento mori (Latin for “remember that you must die”).
Worn by hip-hop originators such as Slick Rick (born 1965) and celebrated in songs like Nelly’s (born 1974) 2005 single “Grillz,” gilded teeth are a popular form of adornment in hip hop. The gold signifies an accumulation of wealth and refuses the Eurocentric ideal of an unadorned white smile.
Courtesy of the artist 2023. 24 7
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LYRICS / “Grillz” by Nelly
Rob the jewelry store and tell ’em make me a grill
Uh, uh
Add the whole top diamond and the bottom rose gold
Yo we ’bout to start a epidemic wit this one
Y’all know what this is, So So Def (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Got thirty down at the bottom, thirty more at the top (uh huh)
All invisible set in little ice cube blocks
If I could call it a drink, call it a smile on the rocks
If I could call out a price, let’s say I call out a lot
I got like platinum and white gold, traditional gold (c’mon)
I’m changing girlls every day, like Jay change clothes
I might be grilled out nicely (oh) in my white tee (oh)
Or on South Beach (oh) in my wife B
VVS studded, you can tell when they cut it
You see my grandmama hate it, but my lil’ mama love it
‘Cause when I
Open up ya mouth, ya grill gleamin’ (gleamin’) (say what?)
Eyes stay low from the chiefin’ (chiefin’)
I got a grill they call, “Penny Candy”, you know what that means?
It look like Now and Laters, gum drops, jellybeans
I wouldn’t leave you for nothing only a crazy man would
So if you catch me in your city, somewhere out in your hood (uh, uh)
Just say
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
Let me see ya grill
Let you see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Rob the jewelry store and tell ’em make me a grill, she said
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
I want to see your grill
You wanna see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Add a whole top diamonds and the bottom rose gold
What it do baby? (Uh)
It’s the ice man Paul Wall (yeah)
I got my mouth looking something like a disco ball (yeah)
I got the diamonds and the ice all hand set
I might cause a cold front if I take a deep breath (already)
My teeth gleaming like I’m chewing on aluminum foil
Smiling, showing off my diamonds sipping on some potent oil (baby)
I put my money where my mouth is and bought a grill
Twenty carats, thirty stacks let ’em know I’m so for real (for real)
My motivation is from thirty pointers, VVS
The frontage in my mouth piece simply symbolize success (that’s right)
I got the wrist wear and neck wear that’s captivating (what?)
But it’s what smile that’s got these onlookers spectating (uh)
My mouth piece simply certified a total package
Open up my mouth and you see more carats than a salad (c’mon)
My teeth are mind blowing, giving everybody chills
Call me George Foreman ’cause I’m selling everybody grills
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
Let me see ya grill
Let you see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Rob the jewelry store and tell ’em make me a grill, she said
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
I want to see your grill
You wanna see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Add a whole top diamonds and the bottom rose gold
(Kinfolk come on)
Gipp got them yellows, got them purples, got them reds (hey)
Lights gon’ hit and make you woozy in your head (hey)
You can catch me in my Too $hort drop
Mouth got colors like a Fruit Loop box (c’mon)
Yeah, it’s what it do, in the Lou’
Ice grill, country grammar
Where the hustlers move bricks
And the gangsters bang hammers
Where I got ’em you can spot ’em
On the top and the bottom
Got a bill in my mouth like I’m Hillary Rodham
I ain’t dissing nobody but let’s bring it to the light
Gipp was the first with my mouth bright white (that’s right)
These hoes can’t focus ’cause they eyesight blurry
Tipping on some 4’s you can see my mouth jewelry
I got four different sets, it’s a fabulous thang
One white, one yellow, like Fabolous chain
And the other set the same, got my name in the mold
Add a whole top diamonds and the bottom rose gold (c’mon)
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
Let me see ya grill
Let you see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Rob the jewelry store and tell ’em make me a grill, she said
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
I want to see your grill
You wanna see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Add a whole top diamond and the bottom rose gold
Boy, how you get grill that way? (Huh?)
And how much did you pay
Every time I see you
The first thing I’m wan’ say hey
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
Let me see ya grill
Let you see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Rob the jewelry store and tell ’em make me a grill, she said
Smile for me daddy
What you looking at?
I want to see your grill
You wanna see my what?
Ya, ya grill, ya, ya, ya grill
Add a whole top diamond and the bottom rose gold
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Ali K. Jones / Beyoncé Giselle Knowles / Cameron F. Gipp / Clifford Joseph Harris / Cornell Iral Haynes / Dwayne Michael Carter / James Philips / Jermaine Dupri / Kelendria Trene Rowland / Paul Michael Slayton / Rich Harrison / Sean Garrett / Tenitra Williams
Grillz lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Entertainment One U.S. Lp, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc