Wednesday, July 16th 2008

Britney’s Summer In The Studio

It was reported back in May that Britney Spears had begun work on her new album. Today, her record label have confirmed the news, adding that the recovering Pop princess will be spending the summer recording the LP. Check out the report via Billboard below:

Spears is said to be working “with a team of top-notch producers and songwriters” not named in the statement, but JR Rotem, Sean Garrett, Guy Sigsworth, Danja and Bloodshy & Avant have all independently revealed that they’re contributing to the as-yet-untitled project.

The new album, for which no release date has been confirmed, will be the follow-up to last year’s “Blackout,” which has sold 879,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album was largely overshadowed by Spears’ tabloid-fodder personal life and her disastrous performance of the single “Gimme More” during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.

On a bit of a random note, I’m actually surprised ‘Blackout’ shifted as many units as it did. I say this, considering there was next to no promotion for it for obvious reasons. I guess it goes to show that the interest level is still there; with a pretty impressive producer line-up, it’s left to Britney to deliver on *all* fronts this go round…

Do you think Britney still has what it takes?

Posted By: Sam

15 Comments

Wednesday, July 16th 2008

Mariah & Nick At Disney World

Newlyweds Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon were snapped at Disney World Florida yesterday. The pair enjoyed time at the resort, having been on vacation in the Bahamas for the last weeks. Good to see that married life is treating them well.

What do you think of the pic?

Posted By: Sam

9 Comments

Wednesday, July 16th 2008

Timbaland To Produce New Jay-Z LP; Say’s "It’ll Be A Monster"

Hit-maker of the moment Timbaland recently spoke with MTV about the Jay-Z’s forthcoming album, which he has been appointed executive producer:

“He wants me to do the whole thing this time around,” Timbaland said Monday during a visit to the MTV News office. “I’mma make it a classic too. You better believe it. It’ll be a monster! I always say this: You get a first single from me, I’mma get you up to gold. And it’s hard to get you up to gold in this day [and age].”

Tim insisted that an LP featuring him and Jay would sell more than the 500,000 copies needed for a gold record, as they’re both international platinum artists.

“Jay should never chill,” he said about the rapper’s decision to return to music full time. “We had a long talk, and I really talked to him. Jay-Z does it for the love. That’s different. When somebody does it for the love, you don’t stop. He has everything, but he’s still current. A million people are buying his album regardless.

“We wanna go to the world,” he added. “The world is ‘Big Pimpin’.’ ‘Big Pimpin’ ‘ is an international hit, so we wanna do 10 of those. Meaning, some of the songs gonna sound like M.I.A. would rap on some of the beats. You gonna be like, ‘Whoa!’ But it’s Jay on ‘em. That means it reaches everywhere. I’mma have songs with bagpipes. The music is gonna be so worldwide, he’ll be able to tour the rest of his life, maybe, off just this one album. The Jay-Z album is gonna be phenomenal. You know why? We don’t care. We’re doing great music just to do it. We doing it for our fans who love us to say we ain’t quit. I’m doing it ’cause that’s my homeboy.”

Though I’m feeling the whole ‘everyone jumping on the Timbaland bandwagon’ thing is becoming a lil’ tiresome, I’m pretty interested to see what he’ll deliver for Jay. After that faux retirement and the so-so ‘Kingdom Come’ LP, Jay has staged a great return to form with the release of last year’s ‘American Gangster’ and successful tours. Here’s hoping this new album continues the trend.

Your thoughts?

Posted By: Sam

10 Comments

Wednesday, July 16th 2008

The Best You Never Heard: Ciara, Ne-Yo, Sugababes & Timbaland

The Best You Never Heard returns this week featuring lesser known cuts by Ciara, Ne-Yo, the Sugababes and hit-maker Timbaland. Do you have any suggestions for future instalments? Drop me an email at sam@thatgrapejuice.net

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Ciara – So Hard

As I’ve detailed in the past, Ciara’s 2006 sophomore effort ‘The Evolution’ was indeed pretty solid, yet offered little in the way of what its title declared – evolution (from her first LP). That said, one of the album’s definite standout cuts was the Bryan Michael-Cox produced ‘So Hard’. Reminiscent of Cox’s now trademark ‘Crunk Ballad’ sound, the track IMO is right up there with the brilliance that is ‘Promise’. What Ciara lacks in vocal prowess, is compensated by the sheer emotion the song evokes. In simpler terms (lol), you both feel and believe what she’s singing. A must listen.

Listen: So Hard

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Ne-Yo – Make It Work

Lifted from Ne-Yo’s 2007 effort ‘Because of You’, ‘Make It Work’ is all that we have to expect from a top notch ‘Ne-Yo’ track. Laced with lush harmonies and a killer hook, the song IMO would have made for a great single; something I’m pretty perplexed didn’t occur, considering it really was a smash hit just waiting to happen.

Listen: Make It Work

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Sugababes – Freak Like Me

Undeniably the UK’s biggest and most talented girl group (I did say ‘talented’, so no Girls Aloud included lol), the Sugababes were able to secure such a position no doubt in part to the success of their 2002 hit ‘Freak Like Me’. A more edgier, rock-tinged (yet still Urban) spin on the Adina Howard classic, the track served as the ladies first #1 and remained at the top for four straight weeks. Good stuff.

Listen: Freak Like Me

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Timbaland – Fantasy (ft. Money)

Following Timbaland’s return to prominence in 2006 as a producer on major releases by the likes of Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake, the hit-maker also asserted his place in the contemporary industry with the release of his 2007 LP ‘Shock Value’. Featuring many a collabo, it was ‘Fantasy’, sung by the relatively unknown Universal/Blackground artist Money, that was one of my personal favourites from the slightly overrated album. With its sensual, whimsical sound, the track is a slickly produced and solidly performed cut.

Listen: Fantasy (ft. Money)

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Your thoughts: Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

Posted By: Sam

14 Comments

Tuesday, July 15th 2008

Rihanna Covers Today’s Black Woman

Rihanna has hit the magazine trail once again in support of her ‘Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded’ record, this time featuring on the cover of the latest issue of ‘Today’s Black Woman’. I’ve definitely seen her look better on many of the other covers she’s graced recently. Rihanna herself, however, isn’t even the focal point of this cover for me; it’s the big sweeping tag-line ‘Fashion Icon…The Face of Beauty’. Hmmm….

What do you think of the cover?

Posted By: Sam

23 Comments

Tuesday, July 15th 2008

Aubrey At ‘Vitamin Water’ Event

Danity Kane star Aubrey O’Day rocked this “interesting” frock at the ‘Vitamin Water Celebrates MLB All Star Week’ which took place last night. There’s not much more to say other than, the whole look is very ‘Aubrey’. Take that as you will…

aubrey+why+2 Aubrey At Vitamin Water Event

aubrey+why Aubrey At Vitamin Water Event

What do you think of the pics?

Posted By: Sam

15 Comments

Tuesday, July 15th 2008

Nas – ‘Untitled’: Will You Be Buying?

Nas’ controversially ‘untitled’ new album finally hit stores today. That Grape Juice wants to know…

Will you be buying Nas’ new LP?

Posted By: Sam

22 Comments

Tuesday, July 15th 2008

Have Janet and Def Jam Reconciled?

There is mounting speculation that Janet Jackson and label Island Def Jam have put aside their much publicized differences and have opted to continue working together. The news comes as Jackson’s previously scrapped new single ‘Can’t Be Good’ was officially sent to Urban Adult Contemporary radio for adds by Def Jam this week. {Source}

A reconciliation? Hopefully. A final parting shot? Maybe. I’m still not entirely sold on ‘Can’t Be Good’ getting the single treatment ahead of cuts from ‘Discipline’ such as ’2Nite’, ‘The 1′ and a more proper release of ‘LUV’. If there’s no promotion, I really can’t see this making much of an impact. Still, I’m hoping Janet and Def Jam have patched things up, the ‘Discipline’ project really is too good to go so un-supported IMO.

Your thoughts?

Posted By: Sam

27 Comments

Tuesday, July 15th 2008

New Video: Alicia Keys – ‘Superwoman’

Alicia Keys really is churning out these singles, isn’t she? The video for the latest, ‘Superwoman’, premiered a couple of hours ago on the singer’s official website. Pretty simplistic, yet captures the essence of the song really well. Good stuff.

What do you think of the video?