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Famed music executive Jomo Hankerson of Blackground Records (former manager to Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, Timbaland, R. Kelly, Ice Cube and more) recently celebrated the ribbon cutting grand opening of his new restaurant, Jay’s Kitchen and Bar, in South Fulton, GA with roughly 100 community leaders, politicians celebrity guests and family.  He also desires to make this new endeavor a continued family legacy and incorporated his wife Heather Wesley, and half-brother, actor Karon Joseph Riley (husband of actor/director Terri J. Vaughn) as business partners. Guests in attendance included David Banner (rapper), Fred “Uncle Freddie” Jerkins (Darkchild), TC Carson (“Living Single”/”Greenleaf”), Byron Cage (gospel artist), Ricky Dillard (gospel artist), Y’Anna Crawley (Season 2 “Sunday’s Best” winner), Micah Stampley (gospel artist), Derek J (“Fashion Queens”/”RHOA”), Gocha Hawkins (“LA Hair”), Sasha the Diva (KISS 104.1 media personality), JaQuitta Williams (media personality), Charmin Lee(“Girlfriends”/”The Inspectors”), Roger Bruce (Georgia State Representative), and Councilman Khalid (South Fulton City Councilman District 6). [Photo Credit: Kalika Wade Photography] About the restaurant: Jay’s Kitchen and Bar, a 3,998-square ft. restaurant and bar feature gourmet soul food cuisine, with signature dishes such as Jay’s Filet Roast, Chicken in the Pot, and Sautéed Colossal Shrimp Grits. Aside from tasty dishes and good times, Hankerson and Wesley want to offer high-quality service and healthy options in their historic African American neighborhood. #JaysKitchenandBarOpening #JomoHankerson

The new Rap & R&B Duo “Kings X2” has just released their new debut single “Wine For Me”. This new end of the summer hit contains influences of Caribbean, Hip-hop, & R&B Music. The Duo consists of  Grammy award winning producer and songwriter James Worthy, & Entertainer and songwriter International Nova. These two have combined their years of talent and experience to bring you something that is nothing less than great.  It’s safe to say it will be interesting to hear what is in store for the fans around the world. Buy their new single here. #InternationalNova #JamesWorthy #Kingsx2

Dai Moda’s “The Greenlight Project” Fall/Winter fashion show presented by sudiSTYLE beautifully brought together the mixture of eco-friendly fabrics and dyes mixed with today’s hottest fashion trends. Angela Simmons and Catina Bryant, Creator & Designer of Dai Moda Dai Moda’s ready-to-wear men & women line displayed that in a world where fashion often comes with the bad name of how it’s produced and what damage it’s contributing to this world, you can still dress amazing and save the planet at the same time. Hosted by the beautiful Angela Simmons, Dai Moda’s “The Greenlight Project” brought out some of Atlanta’s finest from Mimi Faust (Love & Hip-Hop) to Tamera Young (Atlanta Dream Forward) and more. Aside from offering fashion for sustainable future charity proceeds from the line will be donated to Wellspring Living and Advocacy against sex trafficking. Photo Credit: Michael Daniels #DaiModa #Fashion #TheGreenlightProject

This past weekend, The Gentlemen’s Foundation hosted their 6th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. The 2017 theme “We Are Royalty” celebrated all people of color identifying as LGBTQIA. Additionally, the black-tie gala ball and awards ceremony celebrated individuals within the LGBTQ community who have been committed to social change and enhancement of the quality of life. Guests and honorees for this year’s ball included Tarell McCraney (“Moonlight”), Tracee McDaniel (founder of “Juxtaposed Center for Transformation”), Amiyah Scott (“STAR” on FOX), Charles Stephens (Writer/Creator of The Counter Narrative Project), Darlene Hudson  (“State of Black Gay America Summit and Southern Unity Movement”), Julian Walker (“Blackbird”/“Being Mary Jane” on BET), Jack Mizrahi, Melissa Scott (VH1 “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta”), Chief Joel Baker (City of Atlanta Fire & Rescue Department), Sharon Lettman-Hicks (Executive Director/CEO National Black Justice Coalition), Coriology, Tyra B, Derek J (“Real Housewives of Atlanta”), Miss Lawrence (Bravo’s “Fashion Queens”) , Jussie Smollett (“Empire” on Fox), Kelly Price, Bevy Smith (“Radio Andy” on Sirius XM) and more. Under the theme, “We Are Royalty,” this year’s fundraising gala and celebration was the signature event of The Gentlemen’s Ball Weekend, September 29th through October 1st, 2017. The three days of programming were filled with activities for guests and allies to recharge and reimagine their lives. Empowering experiences included: a health & wellness fair, workshops on love, relationships and financial planning, along with parties, mixers, and socials before and after the ball. On Friday, September 29, ball attendees were invited to two free panel discussions with tastemakers in the business and entertainment industries. Special panelists included Ryan Anderson (“SunTrust Bank”), Vaughn Alvarez (“CR8 Agency,” Publicist), Gocha Hawkins (We TV, “LA Hair”), Melissa Scott (“Traxx Girls”), Lisa Cunningham and more. On Sunday, October 1, following the ball, The Gentlemen’s Foundation hosted a “Royal Brunch,” that featured a special Q&A with current select Atlanta Mayoral candidates. In attendance were Mayoral candidates: Cathy Woolard, Ceasar Mitchell, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Laban King, Michael Sterling, Peter Aman and John Eaves. All candidates addressed important issues impacting the city of Atlanta and it’s LGBTQIA citizens. The Gentlemen’s Foundation was founded by Juan and Gee Smalls, an African American Atlanta based same-gender loving couple who also serve as certified relationship counselors, philanthropists, and life coaches. The foundation is a non-profit organization committing to broader social change and encouraging individual and collective empowerment as well as public service, leadership, philanthropy, and networking. To learn more about The Gentlemen’s Foundation click here. Photo Credit: Umeek Images #TheGentlemansBall #AmiyahScott #JuanandGee #JussieSmollett #TheGentlemansFoundation

Living a healthier and longer life has really become a trend in today’s world. From dieting to working out, everyone is trying to look their best and feel their best. We had the opportunity to speak with Celebrity Trainer, Ramese Long and he was able to fill us in on his new workout plan, Mood Workouts, treating your body like a car and fitness tips. What are The Mood Workouts? The MOOD Workouts are online workouts designed to mentally coach you while you are exercising. The MOOD Workouts help you get out of the negative state of mind you may be experiencing at the time…to a more productive, energetic and positive frame of mind. Where did your passion for fitness come from? My passion for fitness has always been a part of me since high school, however, when life got the best of me and my good habits gradually turned to bad habits, resulting in a 70+ lb weight gain for me. Once I lost the weight, regained my confidence and positive outlook on life, I then realized the foundation of my body and life changes revolved around fitness which inspired to help others to never go down the same path. How important is eating healthy? I like to keep it simple and use common sense when it comes to fitness and that includes eating, which is the hardest struggle. Look at your body like a car. If you wash and detail the car every week but never open the hood, never change the oil and put cheap gas in your car, what result do you expect to get from your car? Think of your body the SAME way. Put junk in…get junk out. Period. What are some tips for having better diet and nutrition? Create momentum and don’t go from 1-10. If you’re eating plan consists of fast food, missing meals, drinking and sugar, there is no way you’re going to go from eating this way to healthy overnight. Start off by making small changes and that starts with your eating patterns/habits. There are 7 days in the week…focus on eating “healthier” 4 out of 7 days a week. Watch either your portion sizes, frequency of when you eat, carbs, late night snacking, drinking or all of the above. If you make small changes in some or all of these areas coupled with movement (exercise), then you are guaranteed to create momentum and start to create healthier eating habits. There are so many statistics out there about weekly workout routines and how many times you should be working out. How many times should someone workout per day and per week? There is not a perfect plan for everyone when it comes to how many days a week is required to workout. I keep it simple and tell my clients to “mentally visual” what they want to look like once they hit their goal. Next, I tell them to visualize that person walking down the street and then ask themselves, “how many days a week would you think that fit person you want to be would exercise in a week? 2 days week? 3? 4? 5? 6? 7?” Apply that answer to your current routine and you’re on your way to unlocking that visualization in your head. I like to keep it simple as long as you keep it moving! What can we look forward to from Ramese Long? Expect Ramese Long to continue on his mission to get as many people as possible to not complicate the fitness process but also understand that anything you do in life will not be hampered by exercising and getting healthier…but it will, in fact, improve everything you do physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. To sign up for the Mood Workouts click here. #Fitness #RameseLong

Ford, America’s truck leader, unveiled a new F-Series Super Duty Limited that sets new luxury standards for high-end heavy-duty truckers. With pricing at $87,100, the F-450 Limited delivers technology and comfort previously reserved only in premium flagship sedans, and it’s capable enough to tow more than 30,000 pounds – about the weight of a stealthy Air Force F-35 fighter plane. “The Super Duty lineup is a win for all of our customers, from successful ranchers to contractors to RV owners,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Super Duty Limited is the most luxurious and advanced heavy-duty pickup truck ever created by Ford for those accomplished buyers with an appetite for the high life and the hard-earned dollars to match.” Customers who check every option box can top one out for as much as $94,455. After taxes and fees, it will cost you well over $100,000. Super Duty Limited Crew Cab arrives this winter with Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke® diesel V8 across F-250, F-350 and F-450 single- or dual-rear-wheel configurations. The big competitor to the Ford pickups is of course the Chevrolet Silverado, which is also one of America’s favorite and most popular vehicles. If you’re interested in seeing one for yourself, you may want to head on down to somewhere like a Wichita Chevy Silverado dealership. Check out photos of the new 2018 Ford F-Series Super Duty Limited below. Will you purchase a new Ford luxury pickup truck? #Ford #Luxury #PickupTruck

It’s not new that athletes after coming off the field head over to the world of entrepreneurship. Nowadays, they are actually starting their businesses while playing sports. Drew Westervelt, is a Lacrosse player who has recently launched an incredible product that’s changing the way gym-goers, outdoor enthusiasts, and athletes in general clean and take care of their gear called HEX Performance. While starting his business, he realized he had a few gems that he learned while playing Lacrosse. Check out his 3 tips that helped him in the business world! There are always significantly more valleys than peaks.  Stay positive and drive forward, because focusing on losses will only drag you and your team down. Each challenge is a learning experience you can build from and grow in many ways. Like training to be the best athlete, the path of bringing your idea to life is full of setbacks and challenges. Trust Your Team. You cannot do it all– nobody can! Trust your teammates enough to let them do their work. If you try to micro-manage everything, nothing will get done. And these days, we all need to be quicker. Surround yourself with great people.  Challenge them, and be challenged by them. Identifying team goals and metrics to achieve those goals is key to a positive trajectory. Lead, Don’t Follow. Lead in your own way and believe in what sets you or your business apart. We all have roles in business or on the field.  Whether or not you are assigned a leadership position, believe in your ability and have the confidence to make your value be seen by actions to drive your team or business. Create a compelling case for why you or your business is needed and solves a problem. And be a challenger– “me too” ideas are never game changers. Hex Detergent – Drew Westervelt New Business Venture #DrewWestervelt

Finances is a topic that needs to be discussed with every couple and it needs to be had sooner rather than later. You need to know how much student loan debt they have, what’s their credit score and their spending habits. But how do you have this conversation? We spoke with an expert over at Experian on a few tips on how to have the money conversation with your spouse. Have an open and honest discussion. Make sure your spouse understands your financial goals as well as your spending habits and any of your financial “flaws,” this will help there be fewer surprises down the line. You must understand that everyone handles money differently. Be willing to compromise. Set specific financial goals with your spouse, whether it’s buying a house or even taking a big vacation, working toward a common goal together can help you align financially, especially when it comes to spending. Set a spending limit. This should be the amount of money each of you can spend without consulting with your spouse. Initiate “Finance Fridays” with your spouse — setting aside time one Friday each month to check your bank accounts and credit cards – as well as your credit score and report – together. A useful product for couples is Experian CreditWorksSM which provides access to credit scores and reports, as well as credit monitoring services, so you can keep an eye on your joint finances. Education is key when it comes to improving your finances. Couples should work to become better at credit and finance together. The Experian Education Blog is a great resource for couples who want to learn the basics. Experian.com/education Tips provided by Rod Griffin, Director of Public Education at Experian #Experian #Lifestyle #Money

Google’s Made With Code program has joined with Snap Inc to host a contest for teens to code a geofilter (ie, a creative overlay that shows where you and what you’re doing) that will go live nationally in the Snapchat app. The contest, called #MyFutureMe, launched Wednesday, September 27, and five finalists will be sent to the TEDWomen conference in New Orleans in November to work with Google and Snap engineers to create lenses for the Snapchat app. They’ll also receive a trip to Los Angeles, CA, for a private, VIP tour of the Snapchat and Google offices. A panel of amazing people will judge the lenses from the five finalists. The panel includes Ruth Porat (SVP and CFO of Google and Alphabet), Evan Spiegel (CEO of Snap), Malala Yousafzai (student, activist and Malala Fund Co-Founder), Joanna Coles (Chief Content Officer at Hearst), Laurie Hernandez (Olympic gymnast), Victoria Justice (actress and singer), Lilly Singh (YouTube personality, entertainer, and founder of Girl Love) and Dr. Yvonne Cagle (NASA astronaut). To enter your teen into the contest, click here. #Coding #Google #SnapInc #Technology

Earlier this week, Nike announced that they would be releasing a Skate shoe specifically for women. This was and is something long awaited from skaters of all ages. The change comes from the influence of Nike SB Pro Skateboarder Lacey Baker, Leticia Bufoni, and more. While some shoes were considered uni-sex the first intention when designing the shoe was often male. Female Skateboarders would often have to make “adjustments” to the shoes to get the proper feel on their feet. Finally, after a long-awaited absence, Nike has unveiled their first female Nike SB, the Women’s Nike SB Bruin High: Image Courtesy of Nike The Following is an excerpt from Nike’s statement on the SB Bruin High: Baker’s insight is echoed in similar anecdotes — about modifying men’s skate shoes to improve fit — from female Nike SB athletes including Leticia Bufoni, Sarah Meurle, and Josie Millard, as well as multiple female skate crews surveyed by Nike. Some of these adjustments are admittedly ritualistic, potentially helping to boost an athlete’s confidence, and involve tape, microwaving, and other similar actions. Yet they point to a very real need: a skateboarding shoe built for a woman’s foot that doesn’t compromise performance or require modification. You can read the full article here on Nike News. The women’s Nike SB Bruin High will be released on October 5 through the Nike App, Nike.com, and select retailers. Image Courtesy of Nike #Nike #NikeSkate #Skateboarding #Women

Essence, partnered with Ford, brought together Atlanta’s most notable tastemakers, innovators, and leaders during its My City, 4 Ways culture festival. For the 2nd year in a row, the event created an unparalleled Atlanta culture guide from the perspectives of four young dynamic African-American influencers representing the city’s social and cultural landscapes today: Designer Charlene Dunbar (Style Influencer); Melissa Mitchell (Art Influencer); Singer Algebra Blesset (Music Influencer); Chef Willie Wallace (Food Influencer). The curated experiences moderated by co-hosts Essence Lifestyle & Relationships Editor Charreah Jackson and comedian Loni Love  included a Q&A with Creative Director June Ambrose, culinary experiences by restaurateur and Grammy-nominated singer Kelis, interactive art installations, pop-up fashion shops from local designers, “Ride & Drive” experience in the latest lineup of Ford vehicles including Ford Fusion and Explorer, a sultry performance by R&B singer Algebra Blesset and more. *Photo Credit: Michael Walker/UMeek Images #4Ways #Essence #Ford #MyCity

Last week, DL Hughley held a live taping of his podcast The Hughley Truth during AdWeek at the Playstation Theater in New York City. DL and the crew invited a full panel of guests for this special event. The introduction was given by Matt Scheckner, Founder of Stillwell Partners and Global CEO of Advertising Week.  Guests included: Ali Velshi (“Velshi & Ruhle” on MSNBC), Taneshia Nash Laird (Former director of economic development for the city of Trenton, NJ), Tamika Mallory (an activist and the founder of Mallory Consulting), and Byron Garrett (Director of Educational Leadership & Policy for Microsoft) Michael Garner (Chief Diversity Officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority). To hear more about the discussion listen below. #DLHughley #TheHughleyTruth