Did Kennesaw’s Flau’jae do enough to make it to ‘AGT’ semifinals?

"AGT" opened her segment with  Flau'jae rapping in narration as she visited her father's grave. Her dad Camouflage had signed with a major label 15 years ago but was shot down in Savannah.

Showing both intensity and positivity, the teen clearly used her lessons she learned from Jermaine Dupri's "The Rap Game."

Throughout the song, she rapped, “I need your hands up in the air, don’t let me down!” But at the end, she said, “Put’em up! Hands in the air, don’t shoot me down!”

That was a not-so-subtle reference to the "Black Lives Matter" movement chant "Hands up, don't shoot!" but also to her father's death.

Mel B gave her a mixed review: "I love your message. I love your courage.I love your passion. I love your maturity. But I have to say, tonight, you did one thing that I loved. The rest I didn't love so much. I love the flow you had. Give me more of that. No more of that easy stuff." (Simon  Cowell was upset by her critique.)

Heidi Klum was kinder: "I like that you sing about dark things or dark issues but you always try to find the light in them. You always try to find a solution. I like that you''re real. I like that you're raw. I like that you're honest."

And Simon remained stalwart in his support: “I was taken aback by that [referencing Mel B’s critique.] You’re 14 years old. Rarely do I see artists with steel  in your eyes. That’s a compliment. You’re a winner. That was outstanding.”

Host Tyra Banks had her repeat a portion of her song where she does a rat-a-tat-tat quick rap.

Flau’jae was one of 12 acts to perform this week. Seven will make it through to the semifinals during the results show Wednesday night. She has a near 100 percent shot at making the cut.

Overall, this wasn’t the strongest episode of semifinalists I’ve ever seen.

Here’s my quick assessment of the other 11 acts:

Mochi Diablo: This is one of those cool visual artists from Japan. He mixes juggling with a funky background light show. It's not bad and he's the only one of his kind competing tonight. Chances of survival: 60%

Human Fountains: No chance this act will go through for obvious reasons. It's simply men spitting water and food items into each other's mouths to an operatic version of Heart's "Alone." Schticky? Yes! Icky! For sure. "How am I supposed to comment on what I just saw?" Simon said, exasperated. "It's the most stupid act we've ever had in the finals of 'AGT.'" Odds of making to the semifinals: 0%

Angel City Choir: This is definitely one of the largest groups ever assembled for a live "AGT" show. And they use the already cliched "This is Me" song from "The Greatest Showman." I get a sense this was probably better live than on TV, as Howie said. And big groups like this almost never get votes on "AGT." Chances of making it through: 1%

PAC Dance Team: There is absolutely nothing special about the dancing. No clue why they are in the quarterfinals beyond the "underdog" story. Howie is right again: "I don't get it." Chances of making it through: 1%

Amanda Mena: She was a Mel B Golden Buzzer act but her "What About Now" is merely okay. She has a solid voice and an inspiring "AGT" back story, but I don't know if she shines bright enough to make the cut. Simon thinks she might do better in a group. I agree. Chances of making it through: 60%

Junior New System: A Filipino male dance troupe that often  works in platform heels and provides some intriguing visuals. They are so much better than the PAC Dance Team. If a dance group makes it, it will be them. Chances of survival: 80%

We Three: This family band with a sad back story (mom died of cancer) opted for an original song "So They Say." It's very earnest pop rock that is probably good enough to make the next round. Mel B compares them to modern Dire Straits. (Random!) Simon didn't think it worked: "To me, you looked like the support band with an okay song."  These types of groups don't tend to do well on "AGT." Chances of survival: 30%

Lord Nil - This escape artist has to get out of a chained water tank to keep his wife from falling into a pit of rattlesnakes. This type of death-defying act usually generates enough votes to go further at this stage but this one didn't really draw me in. Mel B pressed the buzzer because she just finds it too dangerous. "Too dramatic," she said. Chances of survival: 50%

Shin Lim - Ah... a card magician who milks the drama without uttering a word. He is quite good. Howie said it's the best close-up magic he's ever seen and so clean and seamless. Simon says he needs to see something bigger next time. Chances of survival: 95%

Vicki Barbolak: An older stand-up comic who treads very obvious territory about men and multiple marriages and trailer trash. I didn't find it particularly funny but she is passably engaging. Teasing Simon about being "trailer nasty" doesn't hurt. She probably did enough and is in a good position near the end of the show to generate votes. Chances of survival: 90%

Courtney Hadwin: Heidi's Golden Buzzer! She's merely 13 and gets the pimp spot at the end of the show. And "AGT' voters love precocious singing kids as last year's finalists proved like Angelica Hale from Johns Creek. She is a bit shrieky but you have to love that she picks a classic James Brown funk fest and brings an old-school earthy feel. She references Janis Joplin and she definitely brings that energy.

Chances of survival: 100%

There were three acts that have no chance of making it through: Human Fountains, Angel City Choir and PAC Dance Team.

My prediction of the top seven: Courtney Hadwin, Flau’jae, Junior New System, Amanda Mena, Vicki Barbolak, Shin Lim and Mochi Diablo.

Two acts have a shot but I am going to say they just miss the cut: We Three and Lord Nil. Junior New System might lose out to one of those two acts, which would be a shame but it could happen. Mochi Diablo is also one of my borderline picks.

MJ's Big Blog readers think Mochi will go home and We Three will survive. And I can see why that is. Otherwise, their assessments on the others match mine.

Flau’jae, if she makes it through, will perform again early next month during the semifinals. If she makes it past that, she’ll land in the finals and a shot at the $1 million.

By the way, what is it about female rappers from Kennesaw? Earlier this month on Fox’s “The Four,” Sharaya J came in second.