Over the past year, we at That Grape Juice have turned to the readers for their thoughts on the roles age, race, and even sexuality play in one’s success in the music industry.  Now, let’s weigh in on a heavier topic – weight.

Our culture is collectively becoming more stylized, making substance a thing of the past.  As image drives the culture, often filling media with airbrushed or digitally altered representations of “beautiful”, the standard of beauty has never been more sought.  An anomaly indeed given that statistics have proven most of the people subscribing to those very standards oft do not meet them.

So, what’s the big deal?

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Big Boi embraces his quirky OutKast foundation in the video for new single ‘Mama Told Me’. The clip, which features ‘Ice’ singer Kelly Rowland, is the latest to be lifted from the rapper’s new album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors’ (due December 11th).

A visual homage to 80’s Electro-Funk, watch the Syndrome directed video below…

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Rita Ora is wasting no time building on her ever-growing buzz.

Fresh from scoring her fourth consecutive UK top 10 with ‘Shine Ya Light’, the Roc Nation star is pushing on with new single ‘Radioactive’ as well as her second album (which we hear will dub as her first Stateside collection).

Watch below as the 21 year old talks to KISS FM about the video for ‘Radioactive’ and the recording process for her sophomore set  (which commences in January) below…

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 Stop whatever you’re doing and get into this.

Earlier today, Rap megastar Nicki Minaj made her way to ‘Power 105.1’s ‘The Breakfast Club’ to promote her new project, ‘The Re-Up‘.

However, though she succeeded in endorsing the release, she did not succeed in avoiding a number of ‘sensitive’ topics aimed at her by the show’s hosts.

Hilarity below…

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“When I Re-Up on Reloaded, imma hurt them bad”.

In the strange case that you weren’t aware, Nicki Minaj‘s new release ‘The Re-Up’ is now available to purchase worldwide this week and is already setting many a digital chart ablaze, less than two days after release.

Now watch her park her promo whip  over at ‘Fuse’ in aid of the project, dishing on her feelings towards one time collaborator Mariah Carey, her legacy and ‘keeping up with appearances’, below…

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 If you thought 2012 had been a phenomenal year for Miguel, it seems 2013 is shaping up to be even better.

Reported to have scored placements on Beyonce’s 5th studio album, the year may also see him hit the road with ‘Girl On Fire’ singer Alicia Keys.

Full story below…

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….and the Nicki Minaj promo train continues.

While many a Female Rapper continues to occupy space in many an unemployment line, Ms.Minaj continues her reign over the field with the release of ‘The Re-Up’ this week.

Set to push sales of ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ well over the 1 million units sold worldwide mark come next chart week, viewers of hit show ‘Live With Kelly & Micael’ were graced with her presence this morning, when she arrived on set for a spot of promo.

Promo, which saw her endorse both the EP and her forthcoming stint on FOX‘s ‘American Idol’.

Their endearing convo below…

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R&B diva Keyshia Cole is celebrating the release of her fifth studio album ‘Woman To Woman’, which hit stores on Monday.

Preceded by singles ‘Enough Of No Love’ and ‘Trust & Believe’, the set is on-course to shift 75,000 – 85,000 copies first week.

Having already established a home of sorts at BET by way of her reality series’ (the latest being ‘Keyshia & Daniel: Family First’), the singer  stopped by the network’s flagship show 106 & Park yesterday to plug to the set.

Watch her 106 takeover below…

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Cop a gander of Leona Lewis in Look Magazine!

The X Factor graduate has made no secret of her love for horses, a love she showcases in this striking new shoot for the fashion publication.

Speaking of “love”, ‘Lovebird’ has been announced the latest single to be lifted from the Londoner’s ‘Glassheart’ LP.

Your thoughts?

Love or hate her, there’s no denying that Cheryl Cole is one of Pop’s more interesting characters.

Relatively unscathed from her X Factor UK departure two years ago, this year brought the release of her third studio album, ‘A Million Lights‘ and the launch of her first UK arena tour of the same name.

Now, in what sheds light on what is at times a mysterious brand, she invited ITV2 into her life as she prepared for the 11 date outing for a Reality special named ‘Cheryl Cole- Access All Areas’.

Watch below…

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With the release of her new EP ‘The Re-Up‘ dominating outlets from ABC to BET, Nicki Minaj continues in her bid for chart supremacy with a documentary that comes as part of the project’s package.

Ironically more telling than her E! ‘My Truth‘ outing, this release delves deeper into the madness behind the Rapper’s methods- following her on her sold out world tour, the creation of the EP and showcasing the genius many would say we haven’t seen since the ‘Pink Friday’ era.

Enjoy the surprisingly open footage below…

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‘Got Me Good’ hitmaker Ciara got right down to business at her highly anticipated promotional concert in support of her forthcoming album ‘One Woman Army’.

Gifting her faithful C-Squad with live renditions of past and future hits (‘Ride’, ‘Promise’, and ‘Sorry’ to name a few), Cici showed up and showed out – wowing fans with her high octane choreography as mentor L.A. Reid looked on from the crowd.

If you didn’t get a chance to catch the live stream of The Key Club-hosted event (sponsored by Myspace), get into the groove with Miss Harris below:

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