I am delighted that Foreign Exchange is on tour and promoting their new release, "Leave It All Behind." Check your local listing cause they are probably performing in your city tonight.

The Foreign Exchange second release, "Leave It All Behind" is the epitome of what a second album is suppose to do for a group or singer, TAKE YOU HIGHER! This album is as close as you will get to a modern day soap opera on Wax.  Phonte showed us his creative genius by writing and strutting his vocal skills. Yes, Phonte is singing and he's GREAT! Kanye tried to do it but it just didn't work. Phonte did it and showed us that an emcee that can sing, is raising the bar for musical talent to a whole new level. As for Nicolay, this is his best production yet. He pulled from every genre of music, threw it in a pot and gave us one of his best albums ever. Who knew that Nicolay had all that sound under his sleeve?

After I tore the plastic off the album and injected the CD into the player, I listened to the voice of Phonte and the sound of Nicolay and realized that "they love me." (You have to have the album to get that one.) Big ups to Yahzarah, Darien Brockington and Muhsinah for their special appearance!

I can't wait for their concert on Saturday, December 6th!

Barack Obama secured the Democratic Party's nomination for president. It's official; HE is the First Black to be elected to lead a major party ticket. What an exciting yet conflicting time! When he gets on the stage tonight to accept his nomination, I will be in the spirit of thanks. Thanking so many of our ancestors for bringing us to this day. Thanking Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for sacrificing his life and delivering the I Have A Dream speech 45 years ago today. Thanking Toussaint L'ouverture for his courage, fearlessness and conviction. Thank you, Toussaint and your team for the beginning. I'm wearing my Haiti jacket today full of pride knowing that we are at this day because of resistance from a group of enslaved Africans in a little island called Haiti who overthrew their oppressors and demanded to be a full human.

Today, as we Blacks/African-Americans, Democrats, and Individuals celebrate and take in this day, let's not forget to give energy and light to our ancestors – not just Martin Luther King and our public figures in the US, but also our ancestors in Haiti that crept up to the U.S. to help us gain our freedom here in the States.

This moment is bigger than us; it's bigger than Barack having the potential of being president. It's bigger than transforming the image of Blacks in the U.S. (especially women, thank you Michelle Obama for that). This moment is the change that we need to heal ourselves and all of our nations, not just this nation. Inhale the breath of our fighting ancestors when Barack makes his speech tonight. Let's show them that we are ready for the next phase of our life. As excited as I am about this historical moment, I'm reminded that we need to be mindful of a couple of fronts. For one, we need to make sure that we don't create Barack to be Jesus Christ himself. Sounds silly, but I truly think that some folks really think that he's not a human being, that he's a godly figure of some sort and is untouchable. What's scary with some of his supporters is that they also forgot that a president has limited power and he may not be able to deliver all of the goals he's setting for his presidency. I truly believe his heart and motives are in the right place, but let's be careful with our expectations.

Secondly, I'm nervous that although we just made history by electing a Black man as the Democratic nominee for president, we will start to think that racism is over. Our race relations are still not healthy and this nomination doesn't mean that our race has come up and we are now equal. I also don't want this nomination to be the justification that people use to believe that there is no inequality for all people of color in the United States. I'm sorry but voting for Barack doesn't mean that Driving While Black no longer exists. Voting for Barack doesn't mean that your employer will now treat you like an equal. Voting for Barack doesn't eliminate Racism! It damn sure doesn't erase the mentality of people that just don't like or can't be social with Black people because they don't look like them.

You know what's funny? As I'm reading the story of this historical moment on CNN.com, I'm forwarded an email about The Tavern at Phipps Plaza discriminating against two Black men that I happen to know (thanks Vanessa). Please read article here: http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/08/06/phipps_tavern_lawsuit.html Hmmm, interesting.

So I repeat, let's celebrate but stay focused and grounded. Let's give thanks tonight during the speech, but inhale the fighting spirit of Toussaint, Martin and others who continue to help us overcome our daily trials of being Black in America.

Oh yeah, don't forget to register to Vote! We have history to make in November.

Did you know that the National Black Arts Festival just celebrated 20 years?

Meaning some of you weren't even born while the festival was doing its thing. I can't believe that for 20 years, we've had a festival that celebrates all things creative and artistic in our culture. From visual to theatre; from written words to music, the National Black Arts Festival has been Feeding our SOULS and I am so thankful. There are many artists that we would still never know if NBAF didn't expose us to them. There are hundreds and hundreds of productions that we would have had no clue existed, if NBAF didn't show them in our local theatres. Let's not forget the number of musicians that would still have limited exposure if NBAF didn't celebrate their work. I am overjoyed to have a festival of this caliber remain in Atlanta. Now that is what you call commitment, passion, dedication and a movement!

At this time, I want to give thanks to Michael Lomax (founder of NBAF), the leadership of A. Michelle Smith, Avery Brooks and the current Executive Producer, Stephanie Hughley. One thing I love about Stephanie is her passion and commitment to raise other leaders and allow the next generation to grow. Big up to the entire staff of NBAF! I know a few of them personally and when it's game time, they do NOT sleep. They are personally committed to the cause and sacrifice to execute this festival flawlessly. The NBAF have the hardest working interns and volunteers. They don't have to be there, but they do it because they too are committed to the movement. Thank you all for your selflessness! And to the 10 million people that have attended the festival, pat yourself on the back because of you this cause can continue to expose new people, new artists and new ideas to future generations!

I had a fabulous time the whole week. From the Pan African Film Festival to the Artist Market at the World Congress Center. From live music at Centennial Park to Art, Beats and Lyrics, everything was well produced and just fed my SOUL.

Check out some photos of Art, Beats and Lyrics and the World Music Festival taken by Brandi Pettijohn, dope ass female photographer!

http://brandiphotos.etsy.com

http://www.myspace.com/brandiphotos

If you weren't at the Anthony David album release party in Atlanta, you missed a hell of a show!

I was so delighted to be the Mistress of Ceremony and introduce some of the BEST talent in ATL. Anthony opened up the stage and allowed songstress Chimere, Dain Harris, Rahbi, Brandon Thomas and Algebra to partake in the celebration. I don't know if was the energy in the room or the high of celebrating Anthony's milestone in his career but every artist tore it up on stage. DJ Salah Ananse kept the energy moving on the 1s and 2s. I felt like a proud momma watching the crowd jump on their feet and scream for Anthony. I was elated that it was a packed house. Very encouraging and let's me know that people still love good music!

Check out the photos below by Raymond Hagans:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

***Collage above are photos by Raymond Hagans. You can contact at www.rhagans.org.