kim kanye balmain-thatgrapejuice

Kim Kardashian sent her fans into a frenzy this morning when she took to Twitter to unveil the dazzling new shots of she and hubby Kanye West starring as the faces of fashion royalty Balmain’s spring/summer 2015 menswear campaign. 

Titled  ‘Army of Lovers,’ the announcement comes just weeks after her sister, Kendall Jenner, was surprisingly removed from the 2015 campaign despite having a very public friendship with the brand’s creative director Oliver Rousteing.

See more snaps below:

(more…)

iggy collage

Some of rap history’s biggest sellers, from Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross to Nelly, Pitbull, and Flo Rida have all had their rap (and street) credibility questioned at one point in their careers.  None listed, however, were rebuked with the intensity of criticism like that aimed at Iggy Azalea.

From barely a buzz to a bulls-eye, she went from obscurity to enemy #1 in just a year.

Besides the unique position of being a white female emcee from Australia who rapped with a southern U.S. accent, not much else surrounded the newcomer’s name initially. In fact, this time last year she seemed poised to take rank with the many other unsung female rappers trying to find a place in the male-dominated game.

Despite backing from one of the genre’s frontrunners (T.I.) and a number of well-prepared videos to boot, success would not knock on the rapstress’s door until the unveiling of the pop-cloaked number ‘Fancy’ and its ‘Clueless’-themed music video. In conjunction with a timely “assistant role” on rising pop starlet Ariana Grande‘s hit ‘Problem,’ Iggy, seemingly out of nowhere, was thrust to the top of mainstream music consciousness.

Undoubtedly a dream come true for any female rapper, especially a Caucasian one traipsing a path so many before her had failed (see:  Sarai, Kreayshawn), that dream would prove itself a nightmare as all but the very genre she pursued would openly embrace her.

Has “winning” caused Iggy to lose hip hop’s respect?
(more…)

teyana-taylor-that-grape-juice-11

Janet Jackson and Aaliyah may serve as references for many of today’s R&B hopefuls, but one would struggle to find any who honour the ladies quite as naturally as rising star Teyana Taylor does, undoubtedly a fan of both.

Currently on a mission to turn her ‘Instagram’ water into credible musical wine, the star released her debut studio album ‘VII‘ in the November of this year, seeing it open with an unfortunate 16,000 units.

However, we’d say it’s only a matter of time before the ‘Maybe‘ beauty kisses sales like “that” goodbye, set to soar to higher ground with live performances that showcase the talent she’s allowed many to sleep on far too long.

Peep her performance of the cut ‘Do Not Disturb‘ live at Ohio’s ‘Nati Christmas’ to find out what we mean, after the jump.

(more…)

Ashanti-that-grape-juice-entertainment-3

A sick juror is to thank for a Manhattan judge’s decision to declare Ashanti‘s “stalker court case” a mistrial this month, disrupting the entire case when  it emerged their illness would interrupt deliberations for more than 24 hours.

Details on Ms. Douglas’ bad news, below…

(more…)

jodeci-that-grape-juice-2014-9000

19 years after the release of 1996’s ‘Get On Up‘, 2015 will mark the release of a brand new Jodeci album, led by their brand new single ‘Nobody Wins.’

Today, the group unleashes the bop’s brand lyric video after enlisting the rapper B.o.B to appear on the cut.

Is the visual strong enough to reignite interest in the R&B group?

You tell us, below…

(more…)

nicki-minaj-that-grape-juice-2014-899000

He may have stopped by to dine with pals, but last night saw a trip to Manny Hailey‘s ‘Philippe’s become quite the event for A&R coordinator Safaree Samuels, when he “bumped into” a journalist from entertainment website ‘TMZ.

There, right outside of the Los Angeles spot, did Samuels answer questions posed to him by the site about his ex-girlfriend Nicki Minaj.

What he had to say when quizzed on their split?

Find out below…

(more…)

jason-derulo-that-grape-juice-2014-900-111

Though yet to prove he can shift albums, the ‘Hot 100‘ chart-slayer that is Jason Derulo most certainly proved his worth as a live act recently, heating up the ‘Hot 99.5 Jingle Ball’ with a performance of his infectious jam ‘Trumpets.

Why we’d say the show’s attendees got more than their money’s worth?

A charismatic Derulo below…

(more…)

 mariah-carey-that-grape--juice-2014-9000

It’ll take more than a slip-up or vocal hiccup to keep the force that is Mariah Carey down, seemingly unbothered by talk of her voice not being what it was  as she rides high on her annual ‘All I Want For Christmas Is Youwave.

So, with the star’s resilient nature in mind, one shouldn’t be too surprised to learn what happened when the she slipped and fell on stage during a performance at the ‘Beacon Theatre’ two nights ago.

Watch what happens below…

(more…)

iggy-azalea-that-grape-juice-2014-8999

Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora rocked the ‘iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2014’ with a performance of their smash hit single ‘Black Widow’ recently, taking to the event’s stage in support of Azalea’s debut album ‘The New Classic.’

How the ladies fared?

Press play to find out below…

(more…)

thatgrapejuice-iggy-ti

While most are tweet-watching to see if the “Anonymous” hacker threats against rap starlet Iggy Azalea will manifest into anything more, her mentor – rap mogul T.I. – comes to her aid again.

Indeed, after calming the bark of legendary rapper Snoop Dogg just weeks ago, now Tip is clapping back at rapper Q-Tip on behalf of Azalea after the ‘Breathe and Stop’ beau lent her a stinging lesson in hip hop history (see that here if you missed it).

In a lengthy Twitter lecture, Tip refutes some of Q-Tip’s claims about Azalea’s intent with hip hop, the fear of white people embezzling from Black culture, and more.  Tuck in below, read his rant, and tell us if you agree:

(more…)

mariah carey-lady gaga-thatgrapejuice

Mariah Carey + Lady Gaga = diva domination indeed!

As seen via a hot shot lifted to social media not long ago, #Lambs and #LittleMonsters rejoiced as their powerhouse leaders united for the ultimate selfie moments after Mariah wrapped up a stunning set at the Beacon Theater.

With star siblings Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen amongst big names out to support the 5 octave songbird during her holiday-themed trek, we’re keen to see what other familiar faces will pop up in the audience as her short residency at the venue draws nearer to its close.

Until we find out, peep one more of New York’s own Mariah and Gaga below:

(more…)

“Time goes by… so slowly”
While this week has found Queen Of Pop Madonna forced to share details about her much anticipated 13th album ‘Rebel Heart’, From The Vault journeys back to her most sonically sound effort in recent years. This week’s pick is the glorious ‘Hung Up’.
Released almost a decade ago, ‘Hung Up’ was the very first offering of the artist’s disco-heavy tenth album, the delicious ‘Confessions On A Dance Floor’. Helmed by British producer Stuart Price and the diva herself, it is famously built on a sample of ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’ by legendary Swedish group ABBA.
Released in a ‘We Belong Together’ reality, the song still managed to achieve major success on a global scale peaking at #1 in 41 countries including the UK, France, Canada and Australia – it reached #7 in the US – and has sold over 9 millions unit since its release.
Johan Renck was in charge of directing the track’s visual. Featuring many dancers – including several of the krumpers seen in David LaChapelle’s documentary ‘Rize’ as well some of her own documentary ‘I’m Going To Tell You a Secret’ – the video succeeds in relaying a raw street aura while keeping up with the glam of the late 70s/early 80s which were explored during that album campaign. From the fashion and the lighting, to the beauty shots and choreography, all comes together and explodes into a euphoric final scene where Madge is seen dancing up a storm.
Perhaps it’s us, but from where we’re standing ‘Confessions’ was the last real “Madonna” album. Indeed, much of what came after has reeked of desperation and tackiness (see: ‘MDNA’, shuffling with LMFAO at the Superbowl, reductive-gate). We’re all for exploring different sounds and textures, and clearly that’s what M-Dolla is famous for; still, we wish she would maintain some sort of regality in her music. In wanting to cater to the younger generation, it feels like the artist is continuously losing the very elements that made her the Queen Of Pop in the first place. So much to the point where she is making the same music the very artists she gave birth to are churning out —- ironically with less tasty results.
Here’s hoping the remaining 13 tracks of ‘Rebel Heart’ give back to us that very artist who has been Pop’s definitive blueprint.
madonna-confessions-thatgrapejuice

Your thoughts?

**