By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Toni Braxton settled her whopping $10 million dollar lawsuit with ex-manager Barry Hankerson quick, fast and in a hurry.

As previously reported in The BV Newswire, the former chart-topping songstress was embroiled in a legal ordeal with Hankerson for dirty dealing.

When false reports that the 'Breathe Again' singer pulled the lawsuit spread like wildfire, last week, we were the first to clear things up -- that she was still, very much, pursuing a day in court.

Well, both parties never ended up duking it out in the judicial system.

Under the settlement, Braxton will be free but not clear: She can pursue new projects once she returns a $375,000 advance to Hankerson and will still be responsible for paying royalties from her next album to her former manager.

Hmmmmm.

R&B diva Patti LaBelle, who was dropped by Island Def Jam honcho Antonio "L.A." Reid last year, is reportedly "in talks" with the hit-maker about rejoining the label. Considering Braxton's astounding success during the 1990s with Reid, it would be great if the two can patch things up.

Hankerson, on the other hand, was able to walk away from this latest scandal virtually unscathed. Previously married to R&B legend Gladys Knight, Hankerson is also the uncle of late hip-hop soul singer Aaliyah -- and former manger to R. Kelly. According to Hankerson, who owns Blackground Records --with a roster including platinum-plated pop starlet JoJo -- Braxton was dropped from Arista Records because of poor record sales and that she joined his company because "there was nowhere else for her to go."

Hankerson added that his relationship with Braxton soured because she insisted on involving her husband (former Mint Condition drummer Keri Lewis) in her albums.

Ouch.

"My freedom from Barry Hankerson is priceless, and means everything to me," Braxton said.