The Best You Never Heard: JoJo, Lalah Hathaway, Toni Braxton & Mariah Carey

The Best You Never Heard is back!  Each week will once again see That Grape Juice spotlight an array of little known gems. Featuring picks from the TGJ editorial team, we want to know…who chose the best song! Let us know below…

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JoJo – ‘Anything’

It’s shocking to note how six years of industry politics have held JoJo back from releasing another studio album – especially given the success of her last outing ‘The High Road’.

Released in 2006, the Gold certified set generated  generated Pop smash ‘Too Little Too Late’, yet was a solid body of work in its own right. Particularly with cuts such as ‘Anything’ siting on its tracklist.

The hard-hitting midtempo samples Toto‘s 1980’s smash ‘Africa’ to great effect, serving up a fresh take on how to “do” what is, in essence, a love song in the 00’s.

For yours truly, the testament of a great song is how well it ages. And with ‘Anything’ remaining the banger it was almost seven years ago, like a fine wine it tastes better with time! {SAM}

LISTEN: [audiotube id=”svwRMl4Fknk”]

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Lalah Hathaway – Forever, For Always, For Love

She may have been introduced to the world as the daughter of legendary R&B crooner Donny Hathaway, but 2004 saw contralto diva Lalah Hathaway take to the tune of another legendary crooner – Luther Vandross.  For her 4th album ‘Outrun the Sky’, Hathaway thought she’d try out Vandross’s 1982 ‘Forever, For Always, For Love’.

Did she knock it out of the park? In only a way Lalah Hathaway can.  The song may have skyrocketed to the top of ‘Adult R&B’ charts, but much like most of Hathaway’s catalogue, only a sector of R&B lovers know of this awesome remake.  Press “play” and fall in love with with Lalah’s luscious contralto cover of Luther’s early hit.  Baby making music awaits below {RASHAD}

LISTEN:  [audiotube id=”PKqMfFzLWDI”]

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Toni Braxton – Why Should I Care

Pulled from her second studio album ‘Secrets’, Toni Braxton‘s ‘Why Should I Care’  is one classic cut all should have been etched into the memory of the masses. Yet, understandably, the track went largely unnoticed amidst the gargantuan success of the LP’s more renown cuts – ‘Unbreak My Heart’ and ‘You’re Making Me High’.

Penned by ‘Take A Bow’ mastermind Babyface, the track sees a sentimental Toni stopping herself from falling back into a bad habit. A habit, that saw her fall in love with a selfish ex hoping to get back together for ‘old times sake’.

Ms. Braxton’s declaration below {DAVID}

LISTEN: [audiotube id=”naNZrl6POeM”]

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Mariah Carey – Migrate

With a catalogue as vast and robust as Mariah Carey‘s, it’s inevitable that a number of songs will fall into the “should have been a single” territory. However, few of such cuts trump that ultimate missed opportunity that was ‘Migrate’.

Opening her 2008 album ‘e=MC²’, the sizzling track had already been described as a hit-in-the-waiting by critics and industry insiders months before the album and first single ‘Touch My Body’ were released.

A winner if we’ve ever heard one, the gem was masterminded by super-producer Danja and features autotune ambassador T-Pain. From its iconic high-notes intro and swagged-out lyrics, to it’s catchy hooks and melodies, everything about this party-anthem screams “top-notch”. Heck, even the autotune on Mimi’s voice is of perfect dosage.

Who knows, maybe if Team Mimi went with ‘Migrate’ as a single the LP’s fate (see: Platinum, but somewhat hit-less) would have been different. Whatever the case, this track stands as one of MC’s best offering of the latest decade. More of this, please! {JOE}

LISTEN: [audiotube id=”s0RT_rm-FFs”]

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Whose Pick Was Best This Week?!

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