#Watch: Fantasia Is Back! Performs "Lose To Win" On American Idol

Whew, Fannie Mae!!

Fantasia has her groove back!

After facing public backlash for dating and mating with a married man, Fantasia has been keeping low and out of the spotlight. Slowly but surely, she has picked up the pieces of her life and now she's back! 

And you better believe that she looks AND sounds amazing. 

During her recent promotional tour for her upcoming album, The Side Effects of Me, Ms. Barrino went back to her roots with a stellar performance on the American Idol stage. She debuted her leading single, appropriately titled, Lose to Win.  

Reminds me of her standout performance of Porgy and Bess's Summertime back when she was competing.

Watch below for the chills!

Fantasia Lose To Win

The Side Effects of You will be in stores April 23! 

Do you think Fantasia is making a real comeback? Did you enjoy the performance?

 Comment below!

#BetterMondays: The Key to Starting Over

BOOM.

POW.

Four Gay NFL Players Could Come Out 'Sooner Than You Think'

2013 must be the year.

During  a recent interview, former Baltimore Ravens player Brenden Ayanbadejo  expressed that the public should brace for a serious shift within the National Football League. According to the Huffington Post, Ayanbadejo revealed a plan already in motion:

"I think it will happen sooner than you think," Ayanbadejo told Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. "We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out."

Now, that would certainly be a change. Despite being married with 2 kids, Ayanbadejo is an active supporter for gay rights, particularly within the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens star was recently released from the team but denies any connection to his association with players coming out.

Well, if the United States military can move past  "Don't ask, Don't tell," why can't the NFL?

Things that make you go "Hmmm."

Do you think the NFL will openly accept gay players? Comment below.

New Music: Jay-Z releases, "Open Letter" - Response to Cuba Trip Criticism [Listen]

Bwahaha!

Here's a little background:

Jay-Z and wife Beyonce caused media outrage earlier this week when they were spotted vacationing in Cuba for their 5th wedding anniversary. So much so, a couple of Capital Hill's finest have spoken out in opposition, stating their trip is against a U.S. Embargo. And now the internet is in a tizzy!

As a result, the Brooklyn Nets co-owner responds in the only way he knows best, through his music. Open Letter sounds like a large LOL. He speaks about his attitude towards politicians, making money with the Nets and his casual relationship with the President: 

"Obama said, 'chill you gon' get me impeached. You don't need this s**t anyway. Chill with me on the beach.'"

Even more hilarious, the topic of Mr. Carter's lyrics were brought up during a White House press conference. (See video on below)


Do you think its appropriate to use lyrics from a song as support for a White House inquiry?

Seems like a good distraction from all the truly important issues going on.

The White House certainly have better things to talk about than this. On top of that, Jay will mostly likely laugh all the way to the bank courtesy of media hoopla.

 If Open Letter burns through the charts, he will stand to make a pretty penny essentially from a diary entry.

Listen to Jay-Z's Open Letter here:

Miami Folks: Atlanta Beat Battle [Miami Edition] - May 2

Tis going DOWN!

Mark your calendars!

If you are a producer or songwriter living in the Miami area, DON'T miss this!

On May 2nd, Atlanta's premiere producer and songwriter networking event is heating up with a Miami edition. 

This will be epic!  

Past attendees: Juice, Maestro, ATLBB Founder: Jas, Fatboi, 1/2 of Tha Bizness, Mo Riley

I've been to many music networking events and without a doubt, the Atlanta Beat Battle is known for hosting strong arms in the production game. Past judges have included: DJ Don Cannon (50 Cent &Young Jeezy); DJ Sense; La President of Aphiliates Music group, Grammy Award winners: the J.U.S.T.I.C.E League (Rick Ross & Mary J. Blige); Maestro (Lil Wayne); Fatboi (Gucci Mane); Tha Bizness (Yung Money & Young Jeezy);  Needlz (Jadakiss); Kane Beats (Lil Wayne); Sonny Digital (Future); Shawty Redd(Snoop Dogg); and many more.

Come out and network with like-minded artists. 

The hits begin here!

For more information check out www.AtlantaBeatBattle.com or @AtlBeatBattle on Twitter.

#TechJuice: The Backpack Umbrella

I could have soooo used this in college during those rainy GA days! 

It would rain right before a class on the opposite of campus, with a professor who offered no free absences  (you know what I'm talking about). Leaving me no choice but to walk (or run) across the quad in the rain. 

So much for looking cute.

However, this little gadget would have saved a lot of stress.  

I don't particularly care for the strap around the waist. But, other than that, I am game! 

What do you think about the Backpack Umbrella?

 Comment below!

Source

Better Mondays: Exonerated Player, Brian Banks, Signed by Atlanta Falcons

Faith does work!

 If the name Brian Banks sounds familiar, its because last year, his story shocked Americans everywhere. He was the number 11 ranked football player with multiple scholarships and opportunities within Division 1 football.

According to ABC News, that all came to an end when at the age of 17, Banks was convicted for raping a high school friend. Years later, while on probation, his accuser messaged him on Facebook, admitting that she had lied about the accusations

Now, after multiple training camps, Brain has officially signed with the Atlanta Falcons:

Shortly before the start of the 2012-2013 season, the Falcons invited him to try out.“He had a great workout, but the timing was bad,” Glazer said. “But the Falcons gave me their word that they would sign him. Not then but soon.”Eight months later, they kept their word.

“We’re putting together our roster and this isn’t a charity case,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the NFL Network. “This is a great, feel-good story, but it’s also one that we believe that he has a chance to come in there and compete.”

If Banks can survive five years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. I'm posi
This is an amazing story!

I wonder what's taking Lifetime so long to make a movie about it....

Michael Jackson’s $40 BILLION Wrongful Death Trial Begins

It never ends...

::Sigh::

Jury selection for Micheal Jackson's wrongful death suit has begun. The Jackson family has filed for $40 Billion dollars against AEG Live, the company behind Jackson's This Is It comeback tour.

Why $40 billion?

That's the number Mike would have received had he not passed away from a homicidal drug overdose:

 Lawyers for Jackson’s mother, Katherine, and his three children are expected to blame AEG Live for hiring Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who is behind bars on involuntary manslaughter
 charges after it was determined that he gave Jackson a lethal dose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, which resulted in his death.

The family believes that AEG knew that Micheal's health was in jeopardy and still allowed Dr. Murray to treat the fragile pop star.

It is possible that Jackson's children could be called to testify.


They say...more money, more problems.

Sad. 

Source

#TheQuench: Being Adopted - My Story [Pics]

Talk about a REBIRTH! 

Many don't know, but I was adopted at birth by two beautiful and absolutely giving parents. (One of them my namesake.) 

I'm proud to say, on Good Friday, I was found by my birth mother and my FIVE brothers and sisters. And Easter Sunday, I met them all for the first time! 

There were many tears, LOTS of jokes, and unforgettable memories. We ate, we sang, and we rejoiced. There was relief on both sides. For me, it was knowing that I wasn't a secret. My family found me. Never in my mind, was that option palpable. And yet, a single Facebook message away, here we are. And now, I know that my birth mother had made the only choice that benefited us both.  

I've always known that I was adopted. And though there was always a shadow of mystery shrouding my life, in a way I knew they were there. I say I have the greatest Guardian Angels. (For the tribulations in my life, I knew there had to be multiple angels.)  And boy, was I right!

Now, I have a bushel of nieces and nephews! Family I've never met are pouring in and showing love. We are now complete.

Living to meet the woman who gave me life & introduce her to the woman who let me live is something I've prayed for my entire life. God is good. This day is unreal. And I am blessed and highly favored. 

My journey is far from over.

 As I move forward and allow the dust to settle, the vision for my life is now illuminated. The shaky foundation I'd created for myself- about my history,  has been reinforced. I now know that I come from a long line of strong Bahamian women. We are beautiful, resilient,  talented, God-fearing, and prayerful. Faith surrounded my family and filled the hole in our hearts until we were able to reunite and become whole as a completed work of art.

Hallelujah! 

P.S.: The biggest sign of love was seen through my parents. They opened their home and hearts to my birth family.  Their openness made this experience unforgettable and I've never felt so blessed to have been raised and nurtured by these individuals. 

CARL & VIVIAN WEBSTER: You are my heart!!

My first picture with my Mother

My family (Missing: 1 older brother)