The Tameka and Usher Raymond custody saga hasn’t painted either parent in a positive light, but say what you want about Tameka. She recently told UPTOWN magazine in an exclusive interview that she knows she’s a good mother.

According to Tameka, her and Usher’s custody issues started long before the recent media frenzy over her request that he take a drug test and filing for sole custody of their sons. In fact, Usher first filed for sole custody of their kids in January 2011, which Tameka says had to do with control and him wanting the kids to move around as he does.

“He is a man very accustomed to having his way. “This has nothing to do with how I parent. Trust me, I never will have a desire to keep a man away from his kids. I am not June Cleaver or head of the PTA, but I know I am a good mother.”

More than a good mother, Tameka says she’s also a good business woman and doesn’t take too kindly to claims that she is or was ever a gold digger. She currently operates two busnesses, Estella, a clothing and home-decor boutique in Roswell, GA, and KangaZoom, an indoor children’s play facility in Alpharetta that she opened at the beginning of last year.

“Usher and I met because I was one of the top stylists in the game. You don’t get to work with someone of his stature in music, especially back then, without being one of the best, and I still am hardworking.”

As a single mother of five, the 40-year-old says everything she does is about her boys: Darrin, 21; Ryan 12, and Kile, 10, (children with her first husband, music exec Ryan Glover); and Usher V, 4, and Naviyd, 3. Even though her journey hasn’t been perfect, she says she’s still blessed to have had the experiences she has.

“I never imagined some of these things to be obtainable. And my sons teach me the meaning of true, unbiased love.”

Check out the full article on UPTOWN. Do you think Tameka is truly only interested in looking out for her boys in this custody battle?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Dudes You Need to DVR: Hot Men We’re Currently Watching TV For
• Daddy’s Little Girls: Celebrity Men and Their Darling Daughters
• Why You Should Say “No” To His Offer of “Just Friends”
• Bump Up Your Bob! Spice Up Your Sleek Style With These Tips
• “OOooh Unn Uhhh” and Other Things Black Girls Say
• Celebrity Women Who Look Good With A Little Extra Weight

Rapper The Game is catching praise and criticism for his remarks regarding the gay community. See what he had to say over at Black Voices

Are you a woman of your word? When you promise someone you will do something, do you deliver? Find out how you can get better at this over at Uptown Magazine

The number of Americans living in poverty has almost doubled since last year according to the Census Bureau. Get the details behind the numbers over at theGrio.com

What would you do if your husband claimed he hated you–but you still felt he loved you? Get some advice on this question from the Gay Best Friend at Hello Beautiful

Do you have a bucket list? Is Washington D.C. on the list? It should be! Check out what you should see if and when you’re ever in chocolate city. The Root

Many have said that Tavis Smiley and Cornel West have been too harsh and even too personal when it comes to criticism of President Obama. But Smiley told theGrio.com that he’s not an Obama critic. Check out the video over at
theGrio.com

You know when it comes to the R&B crooners of this generation, NeYo is one of the flyest to ever do it. So you know he upped the ante for NYC’s Fashion’s Night Out. Check out NeYo’s night over at
Uptown Magazine

The mother who faced felony charges for falsifying her address so her daughters could attend a better school received a break from the governor who decided the felony charge was too harsh. Read what Kelley Williams-Bolar’s thinks of this decision over at
Black Voices

Terrence Howard goes so hard for his wife. The actor left a threatening voicemail for someone he thought was harassing his wife. Read the transcript and check the audio from
Hello Beautiful

College is a huge investment. But you’re worth it. The government thinks so too. Discover which tax breaks you’re eligible for as a college student over at
Black Enterprise

Photographed by Sumner Dilworth

If you have eyes, surely you’ve noticed how fresh singers Estelle and John Legend are. Catch behind the scenes footage of the pair during the cover shoot for Uptown Magazine.
Uptown

You think your schedule is hectic?! Well Tori Nelson, works three jobs, raises two children and trains as a boxer in between. Read her story and watch the video over at
theGrio

Looking for a fly, chic handbag for the upcoming Fall season? Check out these fly options over at
Hello Beautiful

Do you remember or have you ever heard of the Attica prison riot? Read the account of a journalist who was there when it all went down. The story’s over at
Black Voices

Looking the perfect outfit for the office? Black Enterprise tells you what you need to have in your wardrobe.
Black Enterprise.com

Has the notion of slavery become so trivialized it can be turned into a video game? Find out at
The Grio.com

Tamara Bowens is making moves, all with a handbag to match. Check this sista out at
Uptown Magazine

Wonder who’s behind the King Memorial? Meet Mr. Harry E. Johnson. You can watch and read more about him at
Black Voices

Want your place to smell absolutely delicious this Fall? Here are a few candles that might do the trick. Check out the list over at
Hello Beautiful

Did you know the gossip- guru’s bible, Media Take Out, is launching a web-based, reality series called “First Date”? Well now you do. Get the deets at
Black Enterprise.com

TNT’s show “HawthoRNe”, starring Jada Pinkett-Smith got the ax. Dang! The network confirmed the cancellation for E! News.  Head over there to read the full story.
E! Online

Looking for some good, FREE music? Check out theGrio’s list of mixtapes you need in your life.
theGrio

Erykah Badu finds it strange that rapper Drake, doesn’t look her in the eye when he talks to her… huh? Yup. Read these and other quotes from your favorite celebrities at
Uptown Magazine

Remember Kelly Williams-Bolar, the mother who was arrested for faking her address to get her daughters into a better school? Well the Ohio Parole Board has recommended that the governor reject her request to be pardoned. Get the details over at the Huffington Post’s
Black Voices

Do you still live by the archaic rule of not wearing white after labor day? You know you don’t have to any more. Check out the rules for wearing white well over at
Hello Beautiful

We know you’re interested in seeing Tia’s new baby boy, Cree. Well Hello Beautiful has pictures along with an interview featuring the new mommy. Read on when you click the link!
Hello Beautiful

It’s kind of hard to believe it’s been a whole five years since racial tensions mounted in the small town of Jena, Louisiana. Wonder how the town is doing today? You can find out here.
Black Voices
You’ve heard what Tavis and Cornel have to say about Barack Obama’s presidency and even his blackness. Not that President Obama has to define or defend his blackness, but one writer at theGrio.com explains how Obama has subtly softened the American palette when it comes to race.
The Grio

Can we women have it all, the house, the job, the man and the kids? If you leave work to have a baby, what is your employer supposed to expect from you? One New York City judge, who happens to be a woman, thinks you should be held to the same standard of work whether you’re bringing a life into this world or not. Hmm…do you agree?
Uptown

Good thing Rihanna and J Cole didn’t create a sex tape together! Baby boy is too fine to imagine with another woman. (Even though he’s booed up.) Either way, those were just rumors and both artists addressed them on Twitter. See what they had to say.

The Hollywood Gossip

Uptown Magazine is doing the damn thing with their latest cover. Lenny Kravitz got all wet and Hot for the mag. Not mad. Not mad at all. Go ahead and check out Uptown Mag’s website for more pics of the cutie rock star and actor and behind-the-scenes info from the making of this photo shoot.

Did you see him in Precious? What did you think of his performance? Oh and what do you think about those thigh high boots Lenny is rockin’ in that one pic?