Carl Bean - I Was Born This Way

Carl Bean gave up a promising entertainment career to pursue his vocation as a clergyman. He felt the call to found a church to minister to the particular needs of glbtq Christians of color, and thus the Unity Fellowship Church was born. The Reverend Bean and his denomination have shown a strong commitment to caring for people with AIDS.

Bean realized from a very early age that he was attracted to men but "somehow knew not to talk to anyone about it" at first. When at the age of twelve he did acknowledge to his foster parents that he was gay, they sought pastoral counseling for him. The session left him feeling so rejected and despondent that he attempted suicide by taking all the medicines that he could find in the house.

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An amazing talent - Paul Dateh

X Factor 2008 FINAL: Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah

This is one of my favorite songs and only the second time I heard Alexandra sing. I am unfamiliar with her competition to be honest, but nevertheless she is the Winner!

808s & Heartbreak - Pure Brilliance!

Amazon gave me a five dollar digital gift certificate for my latest purchases. I am not in the habit of buying MP3 albums, I prefer to have the physical CD. However when I saw Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak on sale for $8.99 I could not pass it up. The album is pure brilliance, Kanye West is truly gifted as an artist and producer.

Each songs emotes such pain, desolation, isolation, or loneliness and the simplicity of the production only enhances each track. I am not a fan of the vocoder and whenever I am exposed to him, I want to punch T-Pain in the throat. Kanye uses the vocoder not so much as a gimmick but as a production tool.

After listening to it a few times I found myself feeling pretty damn good about having true friends, family, and love. It is a great CD but be prepared it is hypnotic, cathartic, and dark.

R.I.P. ODETTA, the "Goddess"

Odetta, our American folk music Legend who moved audiences and influenced fellow musicians for a half-century, has died. The Grammy Nominee and recipient of the National Medal of the Arts was 77 when she passed away yesterday, Tuesday. in New York.

John Legend - A MUST SEE VIDEO - CHECK IT

Did he say he wants to nut on my face? This song is too special not to share, I guarantee you will love it.

"Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements"

I've made up my mind,
Don't need to think it over,
If I'm wrong I am right,
Don't need to look no further,
This ain't lust,
I know this is love but,

If I tell the world,
I'll never say enough,
Cause it was not said to you,
And that's exactly what I need to do,
If I'm in love with you,

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

I'd build myself up,
And fly around in circles,
Waiting as my heart drops,
And my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere, Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep on chasing pavements?
Should I just keep on chasing pavements?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere, Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place
should I leave it there?

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

R.I.P. Miriam Makeba

Grammy Award-winning Miriam Makeba has been called "Mama Africa" and the "Empress of African Song." She sang for President John F. Kennedy's birthday, testified before the United Nations about apartheid, married Black Panther Stokely Carmichael and spent decades in exile from her South African homeland. South Africa's First Lady of song has died at the age of 76 after collapsing at a concert in Italy.

Love Lock Down - Kanye West

"Change My World"

Check this out - "4 Years To Save the World" by Mateo

4 Years To Save The World - Obama Song

"If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce live in Japan

Click here for the music video

Rum Bar 10-27 - 11/2

Mary J. Blige and Melissa Etheridge Raise $3.9 million for No on Prop 8

Last week Mary J. Blige headlined a fundraiser with Melissa Etheridge that raised some $3.9 million for NoOnProp8. Mary J. Blige is one of the only voices in Hip Hop who stands against homophobia. She has joined the fight against California's hate-based Proposition 8, the November ballot initiative that would legalize discrimination in the state constitution and rescind marriage equality for gays and lesbians.

I love her more as each year passes; Long Live The Queen!

The Obama Song (World of Friends): Bridges for Obama

Bridges for Obama: American supporters of Sen. Barack Obama have been staging rallies abroad at world-famous bridges to show support for the Democratic presidential candidate and his pledge to span old political divisions.

San Francisco - Legalized Prostitution Possible

Murder trial of Suzanne Tamin to begin in Cairo

Suzanne Tamim, a Lebanese pop star, was brutally murdered in her luxury Dubai Marina apartment, her throat slashed. Arrested in her death: One of Egypt's most politically connected billionaires, Egyptian businessman and lawmaker Hisham Talaat Moustafa accused of paying $2 million to have her killed.

Egypt does not have a jury system, the trial will take place before three judges. Many doubt if justice can occur in an Egyptian court and desire the trial to take place in the United Arab Emirates. However with the unprecedented arrest of such an influential and wealthy member of government we may be in for a surprise.

LaBelle is "BACK TO NOW"

Labelle - Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx, and Patti Labelle released their first Labelle album in 32 years. "It is about now," Hendryx says. "We're bringing some of what was then [back], but I live in the present." In a nod to that present they also sought out Lenny Kravitz, Wyclef Jean, and TSOP legends Gamble and Huff to produce several tracks.

This is the LaBelle that rocked my Philadelphia home and electrified the world with their Funk and Soul music. They captivated me as a child and fueled my imagination as my family huddled close to the television to catch their performances. They broke every mold and defied stereotypes. Welcome back to the original Glam Gods!

Grace Jones at the MOBO awards in Lodon

In London, this past Thursday, Icon and Diva Grace Jones presented Estelle with a MOBO, Music of Black Origin award. She delighted audiences with her surprise appearance , filling in for a canceled Christina Aguilera.

Indulgence - Lowes Happy Hour

One of my favorite haunts and weekly indulgences is Happy Hour at the Solefood Bar in the Lowes Hotel. it is sheer perfection. It is offered daily from 5 until 7 pm.

The menu consists of over 30 inventive martinis priced at $5 dollars. The menu is simply delicious, a few personal favorite are Oyster Mignonette Du Jour , Tuna Tartare, Spicy Chicken Drumettes, and Prince Edward Island Mussels. Each are deeply discounted to $3 dollars during happy hours.

The most sumptuous of all treats are the live performance each Wednesday through Friday of Joanna Pascale and her Jazz Quintet. Joanna's voice never ceases to captivate me; her soulful style and vast repertoire are pure delight. The Quintet is simply exceptional. Their performances elevate the evening to one of sensory indulgence.

Joanna is a pure delight; either listening to her soulful rendition of the Jazz standards or chatting with her in between sets. She is a class act and the opportunity to experience her performance for free is When she is not busy performing or recording she is a music professor at Temple University.