Jamie Foxx at Essence

Jamie Foxx performed 5 minutes after his scheduled time but the crowd did not care as they stood to their feet. He sung the concert version of “DJ Play this Song”. Also, Foxx sang songs from the movie Ray Charles.

Magic talks Business Magic

Earvin “Magic” Johnson gave out key points on how to build wealth. Johnson stated facts there are more millionaires but less business owners. He gives clues to his successful business is to hire 9 and 10 people. They should have same mindset as the owner.

1. Build a Brand
2. Customer Service or African Americans will go down the street
3. 3-5 year plan
a. Also, have an exit strategy just in case someone buys you out.
4. Buy some land

Johnson stated with Starbucks menu was changed to accommodate his customers. i.e. scones changed to pound cake and soke it to me cake.

In addition,he said money should be spent our community but if we are not business owners, then other business owners will spend money elsewhere.

Ray Nagin Mayor of New Orleans speaks at Essence Festival

Ray Nagin Mayor of New Orleans said that if you remember anything from his speech, “buy some land in New Orleans”. Right now, you can buy land at half the appraised amount and then in turn get your own appraiser. He pointed out
1. Stick together
2. Economic development- Be your own boss
3. Home ownership, not car ownership
4. Black men need to get stronger as leaders, fathers, and husbands. Strong reentry programs (for prisoners)
5. Politics with Economic as with money is fools gold.

From Broke to Blessed: 10 Top Tips to Financial Freedom: Dr. Julianne Malveaux

From Broke to Blessed: 10 Top Tips to Financial Freedom: Dr. Julianne Malveaux requested everyone to learn the rules and play the game, Broke are you? Here are some tips Malveaux gave:
1. Claim it Now
a. How much money can you put your hands on now?
b. Do you budget?
2. Stop charging, Stop shopping
a. Is shopping your favorite past time?
b. What are we shopping for?
c. Austerity Budget- just say you haven’t got it.
3. Start the repair process-pay down your debt
a. Disposable income not for disposable stuff (food)
4. Change the equation
a. Spend less
b. Earn more
c. Can you work a side job/gig
d. Can you work overtime
5. Cultivate a saving habit
a. 10% God
b. 10% Charity
c. 10% Yourself
6. Claim Ownership
a. Home
b. Business
c. Stocks
7. Develop a plan and count your blessings
a. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail

Bobby Brown & New Edition

New Edition and Bobby Brown Reunion performed in their all white suites and shoes with their smooth dance moves. Johnny Gill song Red Dress then Bobby Brown lead My Prerogative as the crowd waived their hands in the air. Gill came back to sing, Can you stand the Rain as everyone felt the beat of the drum pounding on their chest. Gill begin to assure the crowd that after being in the music business of the twenty-three years that the group has been lied and that

no weapon formed against them shall prosper.

With a cheerful end they belted out with That Girl is Poison.


Bobby Brown came on stage and performed by himself. During his performance, he took off his shirt and belt. The audience begins get suspicious of what was come next. Brown stated that if Whitney were there he would be

tearing her ass up backstage.

As young innocence girls being to tell Brown that they loved him, he chanted,

I love you too but I love Whitney more.

At the end of his performance, the back up singers belted out the chorus to My Prerogative as the curtain came down. Then out of nowhere Brown came from behind through the curtains, came out singing the words of “My Prerogative” and the crowd went crazy. At the end of song when Brown, with only his pants and shoes on, he tried to say my prerogative but his mike was turned off, then he began to just throw his towel in the air as the crowd sung the words to his song. That was the most memorable part of the evening because as for as Brown was concerned he wanted to end the show when he wanted to!

Jahiem in Concert

At 7:15 pm Jahiem came out on stage with a straight-blow-out-combed back hairstyle in gray suit with lilac & yellow tie & lilac matching belt. His performance of “Put Your Woman First” was great but sources revealed that the hairstyle just looked more pimped than thugged out. As a tribute to Luther Vandross death on July 1, 2005, Jahiem belted out “A House is not a Home.” His voice had so much volume that he brought his mike down to his waist so it would not overpower the crowd-filled stadium. Jaheim surprised the audience by singing a very old gospel song “Trouble in My Way, I gotta cry sometime”.

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