The dynamic, instantly recognizable and captivating voice of Evangelist Kim Burrell is undeniably one of the most powerful voices in music today. Her unrivaled instrument, impeccable musicianship and ability to tap into the human experience and emotion has made her a favorite across genre and within the musician community. Kim Burrell is one of the few artists to be revered in both the spiritual and secular worlds. The Grammy-Award nominated and Stellar Award winning singer has collaborated with artists as diverse as Harry Connick Jr. and funk master George Clinton. In the middle, there’s R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder and Gospel’s First Lady, Shirley Caesar. Her soulful vocal runs have influenced a generation of mainstream recording artists ranging from Jazmine Sullivan to Justin Timberlake. Her burgeoning A-List Hollywood fan club includes Beyoncé Knowles, Mariah Carey, Omarion, Jessica Simpson and Chaka Khan. It is no wonder why Ms. Burrell was invited by BET to return to another season of Sunday’s Best, which airs beginning July 2011.

Ms. Burrell’s fans will rejoice with the release of her third Shanachie Entertainment recording THE LOVE ALBUM (released May 17, 2011), which celebrates God’s love for each of us and His love that we share for one another. The Houston native shares, “The inspiration behind THE LOVE ALBUM is simply choosing a way to relate love from my heart. I believe God’s intent for my voice is being fulfilled because I’m careful to follow his leading and direction and that is why I believe so many different types of music lovers hear the sound that they enjoy when I sing.”
For THE LOVE ALBUM Kim Burrell joins forces with a trio of producers, Executive Producer Krishnar Lewis, Asaph Ward and Cory Henry, whom Kim Burrell credits as “being the main ingredient in her ever-evolving creative process in making this record.
Producer Asaph Ward, who produced Ms. Burrell’s 1998 Tommy Boy recording EVERLASTING LIFE, reunites with the singer. “It’s always fun and enlightening to work with Asaph Ward,” shares Burrell. “We have such a great working and meaningful relationship which always helps our process. He’s a great producer and person.”

THE LOVE ALBUM is a special event for Kim Burrell fans as it showcases an eclectic mix of repertoire in a way that only Kim Burrell could pull off. Highlights on the CD include a sensational version of the Earth, Wind & Fire classic “Love’s Holiday,” as well as a strikingly gorgeous rendition of the Clark Sisters staple “Jesus Is A Love Song.” The Grammy nominated songstress also does a mind-blowing arrangement of El DeBarge’s “Love Me In a Special Way.” The album’s first single, “Sweeter,” is a joyous composition written by Kim Burrell’s sister. “Kathy’s heart is filled with such great messages about God that makes me want to sing,” shares Burrell. “’Sweeter’ is about how being in relationship with God causes each day to become better.” THE LOVE ALBUM also showcases Kim Burrell’s deft skills as a composer as she offers four originals on the album including the sublime and meditative “Prayer for Love” and the upbeat “A Lil’ More Time.” On the uplifting “Let’s Make It To Love,” the sweeping arrangement and catchy lyrics have the surprising feel of a Burt Bacharach/Hal David number. Showing off her depth as a composer, Ms. Burrell also wrote the ballad “Is This The Way It Goes,” which beautifully illustrates her range as a vocalist. Accompanied by pianist Eddie Brown, Burrell takes melodic and harmonic turns that few singers on the scene would dare to try.

“I’ve always been aware of my gift because I grew up having to use it alongside my sister and brothers in our family singing group as well as supporting my parents in ministry,” confides Kim Burrell. The Houston native hails from a musical family where they listened to a variety of sacred and secular music styles. Her father was pastor at the Greater Emmanuel Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Burrell sang her first solo at the age of one and sang in a variety of choirs around Space City in spite of suffering with double pneumonia for eight years. A gifted pianist as well as vocalist, she was mentored by the legendary COGIC music department chief Mattie Moss Clark. “My biggest influences were my mom, who sings like a songbird, and my dad, who plays like a genius,” she once said. “They caused me to do what I do.” As a teenager, Burrell was featured on recordings by the Gospel Music Workshop of America Youth Choir, Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas, and The Inspirational Sounds Mass Choir of Houston. Circa. She eventually bankrolled her first CD TRY ME AGAIN and sold 50,000 copies out of the trunk of her car at churches and music conventions around the country.

Fans of Kim Burell have probably taken notice of her fabulous and fit new look. At the top of her game vocally, Kim Burrell has also brought her ‘A’ game to her health and fitness agenda. After battling issues with her weight and heart, she was forced to reevaluate her health priorities. The slimmer and radiant singer, who recently became the Pastor of her own Church in Houston, Love & Liberty Fellowship Church, shares the following message for her fans. “Where would I be without you? You have made me see myself through so many of your eyes and hear myself through so many of your hearts. Don’t ever stop reminding me of Philippians 1:6. Thanks for the love. You’re the best!”

In this exclusive interview, Anthony Hamilton talks about how he made the move from the background without outshining the artists he’s worked with. Take a look at Anthony as talks about how he did it in the video below…

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Banks has gone through an array of hairstyles, colors and lengths. We’ve even seen her rock corn-rolls like Queen Latifah in “Set It Off!”

Lets take a look at some of her greatest looks:

For those who aren’t sports fanatics, the reason they tune into the Super Bowl is for the commercials. The ads were a little weak this year, which made it easy to pick favorites. The Urban Daily decided to highlight five of the best commercials of the 2012 Super Bowl. Sorry, ladies, David Beckham’s H&M ad did not make this list. I feel like I need to throw a “pause” somewhere in here for even mentioning it.

5. Bridgestone Football

4. M&Ms “Sexy And I Know It”

3.Doritos Sling Baby

2. Dannon Greek Yogurt

1. Doritos Man’s Best Friend

Source

SEE ALSO: Christians Under Attack

Samuel has been charged with child endangerment and public intoxication, after reportedly leaving her 1-month-old grandson near Interstate 80. According to Samuel, after being evicted from Motel 6, she was just trying to retrieve the rest of her belongings and was planning on returning.

“I dropped him off and just walked back across the street to get my stuff right there on the platform. I didn’t leave him to go back to the room or nothing…. I will plead not guilty,” Samuel said. “I did not endanger my grandson. I love my grandkids.”

Deputy Jason Ramos is unconvinced:

“This [area] has been [known] for some time for prositution and narcotics.”

To add the cherry on top, the baby was found laying on top of an open bottle of brandy. Yes, you read right.

Still,  Samuel calls the entire incident “a big misunderstanding.”

Watch the Grandma defend her actions here.

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Graham, 19, was pursued by a team of police who had attempted to stop and question him.  Reportedly, police witnessed the youth adjusting the waistband of his pants on the street and immediately assumed he had a gun.  The youth, who had a prior arrest record for marijuana possession and burglary, ran from the officers who then gave chase.

The unarmed boy was tracked down by police in his residential second-floor apartment.  When Graham managed to make it inside his apartment, he reportedly ran inside the bathroom with two officers in hot pursuit.  A tussle ensued and one of the policeman fired a bullet from his .9 mm gun, hitting Graham in chest.  The name of the officer who did the shooting has not been released, but reports state that he is a 30-year-old, two-year veteran who has never been involved in a prior shooting.

According to sources, Graham was unarmed:

“He had some weed on with him,” a family friend told the Daily News. “It wasn’t a big deal. They shot him inside the house. … He didn’t have a gun.”

Police reports state that a small amount of marijuana was found in the bathroom and speculate that perhaps the teen had been trying to flush it down the toilet to avoid further arrest.

Graham was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.

Constance Malcolm, 39, who is Graham’s mother, witnessed the incident and is distraught over the death of her son.

“They chased him into the house.  Nobody deserves to be shot in their own home.”

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by Donal Ware
The defending CIAA Champion Shaw Bears are a unanimous #1 selection in the Boxtorow National Division II/NAIA HBCU Top 10 Basketball Poll.

Winston-Salem State’s loss to Saint Augustine’s on Saturday enabled the Bowie State Bulldogs to grab the #2 spot. WSSU fell to #3. Tougaloo and Xavier (La.) who combined was 3-0 last week, remained at the #4 and #5 positions, respectively.
The Central State Marauders moved up to spots this week to #6, while Voorhees, winner of two games, moved from tied for #10 last week to #7. Paine dropped one spot to #8, while Wiley remained at #9 and is tied with Saint Augustine’s, who moved up from being tied for #10 last week.
In the Division I poll despite losing to Coppin State, the Norfolk State Spartans remain on top. Norfolk State received all but one first place votes.

The Savannah State Tigers received one first place vote and remained at #2. The Tennessee State Tigers are winners of four in a row and remain at #3. Coppin State and Mississippi Valley State, who traded positions last week, trade positions again this week and are #4 and #5, respectively.

The voters are comprised of some of the top media members in the country who cover Division I and Division II/NAIA basketball. The poll is in its fourth year.
2011-12 Boxtorow National HBCU Division II/NAIA Top 10 Basketball Poll
Week 3: January 31, 2012
No. Team W-L Pts. Previous Rank
1. Shaw (14) 17-2 140 1
2. Bowie State 16-3 122 3
3. Winston-Salem State 15-4 108 2
4. Tougaloo 17-5 102 4
5. Xavier (La.) 16-6 86 5
6. Central State 13-6 56 8
7. Voorhees 14-5 50 T-10
8. Paine 11-7 26 7
T-9 Wiley 11-8 20 9
T-9 Saint Augustine’s 11-8 20 T-10
Others receiving votes: Tuskegee (10-6) 14, Texas College (13-8) 12, Benedict (8-8) 6, LeMoyne-Owen (10-7) 4.

2011-12 Boxtorow National HBCU Division I Top 5 Basketball Poll
Week 3: January 31, 2012
No. Team W-L Pts. Previous Rank
1. Norfolk State (12) 16-7 128 1
2. Savannah State (1) 11-10 106 2
3. Tennessee State 13-10 100 3
4. Coppin State 11-11 92 5
5. Mississippi Valley State 10-11 54 4
Others receiving votes: Southern (11-11) 36, Bethune-Cookman (9-13) 26.

Known as the Voice of Black College Sports, Donal Ware has covered historically black college and university sports and pro sports across the U.S. for years. He is the host of the nationally syndicated FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW which airs on SiriusXM Channel 141 Fridays from 1-2 p.m. and on radio stations around the country including Saturdays from 11-Noon p.m. on WAUG-AM 750 in the Triangle and from 1-2 p.m. at www.boxtorow.com. You can follow him on twitter @dware1 or @boxtorow

Since Planned Parenthood is the focus of an inquiry spearheaded by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), in efforts to determine if public money was illegally spent on funding abortions, the life-saving partnership between the bastions of women’s health has been nullified.

Coincidentially, conservative Karen Handel, who lost a gubernational race in Georgia in 2010 running on a strict anti-abortion and anti-Planned Parenthood platform, was recently named Komen’s vice-president. In her campaign blog, Handle made her position clear:

I do not support the mission of Planned Parenthood.”

While Barbara Walter consistently stated that “federal funds are not used to fund abortions at Planned Parenthood” and Whoopi Goldberg insisting that the “the investigation is false,” Elisabeth Hasselback stayed true to conservative form, stating:

If it was political and if Susan G. Komen would never be associated with someone because they are the nation’s largest provider of abortions, then why would they have ever have partnered with them over the years and years and years?”

See The View debate below:

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Don Cornelius: Love, “Rest In Peace,” And Soul

A newly discovered letter from a freed former slave to his onetime master is creating a buzz. Letters of Note explains that in August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee wrote to his former slave Jourdan Anderson, requesting that Jourdan return to work on his farm.

In the time since escaping from slavery, Anderson had become emancipated, moved to Ohio where he found paid work and was now supporting his family. The letter turned up in the August 22 edition of the New York Daily Tribune. Some excerpts:

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin’s to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

On the “good chance” offered by the former slave owner:

I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the folks call her Mrs. Anderson,—and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, “Them colored people were slaves” down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

And then Jourdan explains that anything his former master could offer, he’s already earned on his own. Other than some back wages:

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams’s Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

And after a few more jabs about how his children are now happy and receiving an education, Jourdan concludes his letter with:
Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

Source

Don Cornelius — who famously created “Soul Train” was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, CA home this morning … and law enforcement sources tell us it appears he committed suicide.

We’re told cops discovered the body at around 4 AM PT. Law enforcement sources tell us … Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.

We’re told Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“Soul Train” changed the landscape of television when it debuted in 1971 and ran until 2006.

Officials have notified Don’s family.

Cornelius was 75.

During Don’s bitter divorce proceedings in 2009, he told an L.A. judge he was suffering from “significant health issues” and wanted to “finalize this divorce before I die.”

The divorce was granted later that year.