As one of the industry’s biggest and brightest stars, its not surprising Beyonce portrays the sun in this sizzling new promo shot for ‘House of Dereon’s Fall campaign. The hot tamale pic was shot by Terry Richardson in New York City recently.

In other news, the pregnant megastar is gearing up for a series of video releases from her ‘4’ project. King B may be with child, yet the hustle doesn’t stop. Got to love it.

Your thoughts?

If fashion designer Gieuseppi Zanotti was unfamiliar with Rap enchantress Nicki Minaj and her infamously die hard fan base, last night’s ‘Fashion’s Night Out‘ party held at his boutique in New York City would have been sure to change all of that.

For channeling her love of Japanese culture into her outfit, the entertainer generated mass excitement when she arrived at the event, greeted by fans who had waited hours on surrounding streets just to catch a glimpse of her.

More shots from the night below…

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One rolling stone met another when The Dream recently sat down with the popular magazine following the release of his free LP ‘1977’.  While the Hip Hop hitmaker is said to be readying a free followup to that LP, he dished with Rolling Stone about his latests –  ‘Love King IV’, label drama, and love.  All of the aforementioned, Dream says, will be explored on his upcoming studio work.

As always, addressing ex-wife Christina Milian also made its way into conversation.  See what the ‘Single Ladies’ craftsman had to say these topics and Beyonce’s pregnancy announcement after the jump:

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‘Jumping Train‘s‘ diva Jojo is gearing up on the promotional trail for her latest effort ‘Disaster’.  Already in Itunes Top 40, footage of the young starlet performing the single the day after its Itunes release at the Q102 studio.

The singer followed up the rousing performance with a short interview, detailing the album (and album title’s) conception and more.  See Ms. Levesque do what she does best after the jump:

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The Milian musical-merry-go-round continues to turn as news has surfaced singer Christina Milian has ditched the original plans for her oft-delayed fourth studio release.  Initially entitled ‘Elope’, the 29-year-old songstress spoke with our friends at The BoomBox to reveal the latest details on the (now) untitled new album.

Although readying for a role in the ABC Family program ‘Maid In Miami’, the ‘Dip It Low’ diva is ‘determined’ to get back behind the mic.  Read her statements after the jump:

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‘The Bridge’ chanteuse Melanie Fiona is definitely crossing her fair share of promo paths in support of her upcoming LP.  Most recently spotted on The Recording Academy’s “5 Questions With” series, the up-and-coming diva dished on everything from her Grammy nominations to her sophomore studio release ‘The MF Life’ (due October 25).

See this and more on Melanie after the jump:

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If you thought the set pics from Kelly Rowland‘s ‘Lay It On Me’ video shoot were hot tamale, wait till you see the action in motion!

Our friends over at Hip Hollywood were on set, and got the good good on all the day’s happenings – including Rowland and her troop of dancers getting down to the Anthony Burrell/Frank Gatson choreographed routine.

Footage after the jump…

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‘How We Do’ rapper The Game may not be mostly remembered for insightfulness and thought-provoking statements, but his sentiments on closeted homosexual rappers in the industry did cause a firestorm this week. Blazing the blog-o-sphere, discussions on Game’s ‘insight’ (or maybe just plain sight) had tongues wagging. Agree or disagree, his disposition doesn’t delve into the unknown – just the unspoken.

Traipse the political terrene and anyone not living under a rock has seen the last couple of years spawn unprecedented progress in gay rights period, let alone in the Pop musical landscape. Lady Gaga, Jessie J, Ricky Martin, and Adam Lambert are just a few of the openly bi or gay stars who are pushing an envelope (arguably) signed and sealed by Melissa Etheridge, George Michael, and Boy George before them. But while Pop is busy pushing an envelope, hip hop maybe busy hiding it, sweeping it under the taboo throw rug. For while the male-dominated industry has embraced ‘openly’ bisexual rapstress Nicki Minaj, that embrace may border more on fantasy than respect. This, of course, would open up the argument that women who openly flaunt alternative lifestyles are more easily accepted than men.

Regardless, in a land where hyper-masculinity is often used to denote (and sometimes disguise) one’s ‘true’ hip hop identity, those who do not succumb to the stereotype are often branded ‘gay’. There are few R&B male singers who are relevant that haven’t had the title accompany their name at one period of time. So, we’ve already asked you:

‘Will Hip Hop ever accept an openly gay/bi male rapper or singer”. And we, as ever, appreciated your feedback. But now, let’s twist it. That Grape Juice wants to know:

Why, when other genres are beginning to embrace being ‘out’, does Hip-Hop not?

‘Would you still support your favorite rapper/singer if he or she came out of the closet’?

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Click here to WATCH Part 2 of Trapped In the Closet: Hiding In Hip-Hop
on That Grape Juice TV!

Now more than five years since the release of her debut album, it is safe to say that Cassie‘s career has been centred around everything but the music.

However, fans of the Bad Boy performer will be pleased to know that may just be about to change with the surfacing of a snippet for her new song, ‘King Of Hearts‘.

The release has been confirmed to be lifted from her upcoming LP, which is due in coming months.

Listen below…

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You voted in your thousands, all in support of who you believed deserved the title of Rap’s Reigning Emperor.

In a list which included the likes of both The Game and Kanye West,  Rappers of both sexes were included to pay homage to the plethora of both male and female Rappers whose artisty has both shaped and influenced the way the world sees Rap/Hip Hop music to day.

Now, find out who YOU decided was most deserving of this title below…

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{Click here to read part 1}

For all the social strides towards equality, the topic of homosexuality remains taboo in many an arena – not least in Hip-Hop.

Indeed, despite living in an era where displays of sexuality are as flagrant as ever, such showings in Urban music are almost exclusively of the hetrosexual (and often, misogynistic) persuasion.

Do such practices point to same-sex relations being non-existant in the Hip-Hop diaspora? Of course not. However, what is potently underscored here, is Hip-Hop’s willing silence on topics of the rainbow persuasion. Particularly when it pertains to artists active in the hyper-masculine field.

What’s bothersome for many, however, is the genre’s continued embrace of homophobic lyrics and images. Images which perpetuate the ideology that to be gay is to be ‘less’ than a man.

And yet for many industry and cultural analysts, such a stance is as ironic as ironic can be. For, the very industry at the heart of discussion is dominated by those of the gay persuasion. From make-up artists, to managers, to label execs, to – of course- artists themselves. Rapper the Game indeed made no mistake when he declared “Beyonce really should have sung, who run the world? Gays”. Well, at least when it comes to any such discussion relating to the music world.

As such, in our drive to continually push the envelope, That Grape Juice TV brings you a telling segment from Byron Hurt‘s 2007 documentary ‘Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes’.

In this riveting piece, Hurt probes Hip-Hop’s homophobia and undercover displays homo-erotica in the videos and images of some your favourite rappers.

Be sure to let us know your thoughts below…

Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez delivered a casual look on the cover of this month’s US Weekly Style Issue.

Generating excitement within her fan base earlier this month with the surfacing of images from her ‘Papi’ video shoot, readers of the Style Issue will find advice from the entertainer on a number of issues.

From shopping on a budget to how she feels fans can achieve the styles and looks of their favorite stars.

Your thoughts?