As much as it hurts us to admit it, Christina Aguilera has pulled the plug on the ‘Lotus’ era (sheds lonely tear).

With this in mind, it’s safe to say work on its follow up will already have some of her staple collaborators wondering just how to up their creative game in preparation for it, as to ensure it surpasses ‘Stripped‘s standing as her strongest project to date.

Now, it’s time to have your say.

Find out how below…

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This week’s That Grape Juice Cover Star comes from Youtube beau Caleb Rekcah. Watch as he lays into an acoustic cover of Brandy‘s ‘Wildest Dreams’ – the second single from her critically acclaimed set ‘Two Eleven’:

We appreciate singers who can put their own twists on tunes without taking away from it.  Caleb did just that.  Softly cooing in the beginning of his cover (giving it a “lullaby” feel almost), the second verse saw him really ramp up and bring the song home.

While maintaining the vulnerability of tone the song calls for, Rekcah opted to avoid B-rocka’s rollercoaster (and oft inimitable) ride of runs and melisma, instead inserting his own blend.

Bravo sir.

For more on Mr. Rekcah, check out his Youtube page.

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Want to be featured on That Grape Juice’s ‘Cover Star’? Drop an email to sam@thatgrapejuice.net

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Your thoughts?

Chris Brown‘s new album ‘X’ now has the Nicki Minaj factor, for the singer announced moments ago that the hotly anticipated set will be feature a “mean” verse from the charismatic femcee.

Details after the jump…

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Check out the official remix to Beyonce‘s fiery new cut ‘I Been On’ featuring a number of her favorite MCs, hailing from her hometown of Houston, Texas.

After giving it about 100  a few spins, we’d be lying if we weren’t kind of obsessed with it and hope Bey goes on to shoot a video in its honor.

Want to see here it for yourself?

Listen below!

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Is Rihanna aiming shots at Beyonce‘s latest cut, ‘Bow Down‘?

Well, if a recent tweet posted by the ‘No Love Allowed’ singer is anything to go by, some might say the answer to that question is a definite yes, after data collected by the UK’s 4Music saw her accurately billed the nation’s most influential Pop star.

Want the full story below?

We’ll meet you below!

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After signalling her comeback with ‘She Bad Bad’, Eve serves up ‘Make It Out This Town’ – the first official single to be lifted from her new album ‘Lip Lock’.

The Gabe Saporta assisted cut saw its accompanying video unwrapped moments ago. Does the visual pack enough to boost the buzz for its parent album (due May 14th)? Judge for yourself after the jump…

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Though we loved its material (albeit a little one dimensional) the promotional plan employed to push Nicki Minaj‘s ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ was in fact nothing short of an unorganized mess.

Ditching the structure and strategy that saw her debut album ‘Pink Friday’ score points on a commercial and critical front, the ‘white wash‘ look, mass release of ‘un-promoted’ singles, lack of televised performances and constant need to remind the world that she was ‘still Hip Hop’ saw her isolate the casual listener that had taken all of ‘Friday’s singles to Gold or Platinum status.

Of course, while this didn’t stop the album from being the highest selling Rap LP of the year, it was clear that the once glamorous and in tact Minaj was in desperate need of a branding overhaul if her third album was to do as well as her first.

Now, as to right the wrongs of yesteryear, the ‘Your Love’ MC is readying a campaign that may leave some of her naysayers no choice but to applaud her.

Full story below…

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Stop whatever you’re doing and check out the sneak peek for Nicki Minaj’s latest video, ‘High School’.

Unveiled online today before it airs in full via MTV on April 2nd, we’re sure you’ll agree with us when we say this already looks like one of the Rapper’s better visual releases.

Think we’re exaggerating?

Watch below…

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With Chris Brown set to premiere new music any moment now, the stage blazer has begun doing the media rounds in support of the set (tentatively titled ‘X’).

Presently working the Los Angeles circuit, the 23-year-old stopped by Power 106 FM and chatted it up with Big Boy about many a topic including Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, rival Drake, and battling depression.

Peep the interesting watch after the jump…

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Kendrick Lamar kept his buzz a’buzzing last night with a rousing performance of ‘Poetic Justice’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The rapper is enjoying ample success both critically and commercially; indeed he recently topped MTV’s Hottest MC 2013 list, while his debut album ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city‘ has been certified Gold and will likely scan Platinum (sold and shipped) in the months ahead. Its present US sales stand at 808,000.

Watch K-Dot perform the Janet Jackson sampled song after the jump…

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American Idol, X Factor, The Voice, Sunday’s Best, Duets, Making the Band, Sing-Off, and Major & Minors are just a few of the recognizable titles of singing competitions that have graced (or disgraced) television over the past decade or so.

With its modern-day format pioneered by the FOX-aired ‘Idol’ to once record ratings (though ‘Live at the Apollo’ is the true grandfather of the genre), the last few years have seen a steadily declining interest in the singing competition themed reality show – despite reigniting interest in some of music’s top stars (see: Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, etc).

Until…NBC’s ‘The Voice’.  But, even with its winning ratings, it has yet to produce a quality star in three seasons:

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He’s the label executive Frank Ocean, Elijah Blake, Nas and Rick Ross all consider the driving force behind their recent successes.

However, despite his outstanding year as the head of the Def Jam music group, Joie Manda has resigned from his role as the label’s President and is now on his way to Jimmy Iovine’s Interscope Records.

Details below…

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