• Usher does daddy duty on the August cover of Essence. [Bossip]

• Terrie Williams on the black community and mental health. [Racialicious]]

• If Shaunie and Shaq are officially back together, does that mean Kobe doesn't have to tell him how his ass tastes? [SR]

• John McCain: the picture of tolerance. [DK]

• Nas's "Nigger" controversy might be to blame for his canned reality show. [SR]