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That Grape Juice Update: Honesty Is The Best Policy

27th May

Honesty Is The Best Policy

Well guys, this one has been a long time coming…

Since starting That Grape Juice back in February 2007, I kinda made a conscious effort to strictly keep the site and what is going on in “Sam’s world” as separate as possible. This was (and is) for a number of reasons; most important, however, is what I feel is the need to keep the focus on the content of the site and site branding, as opposed to plugging myself. Over the last 2 and a half years, I feel I have managed to do that and I’m *very very very* proud of what the site is and continues to stand for. Hence, I feel no way in saying I know I have on my hands one of the best Urban blogs on the net!

However, I’d be deceiving myself, and you guys, if I said I wasn’t aware of the fact that over the last few months things just haven’t been how they once were. So without wallowing in the dramatics, let me step out from behind the shadows as such and clue you guys up on what’s been happening.

I launched That Grape Juice back in 2007 during my first year as an Undergraduate at Brunel University (brap! LOL). Since then, much of which is due to you all, I’ve seen the site sky rocket to heights I would have never imagined – celebrity fans, interviews, International recognition and all that good stuff. What’s more, That Grape Juice has opened so many doors for me professionally and personally. Without going off the point though, I’ve seen all of this happen while I’ve been doing my thing with the studies. However, as I’m sure all my fellow students will know, with my final year having kicked off in October last year, it really meant I had to amp up things on the academic side because ‘I don’t do failure’ LOL. Consequently, the site, while still maintaining an overall high quality in content (interviews etc), saw lesser posts and whatnot. So while you were probably thinking ‘WTF is Sam doing?’, I was probably cranking out essays last minute while high on Red Bull, Lucozade, and Pro Plus LOL. So, it can be really hard hearing from some of you, things like: ‘Where the hell is such and such interview’ or ‘Sam, you’re slacking’. It’s more than cool though, as I: a) understood the bigger picture and b) understand that people will only go on the information they have, which in this case was very little LOL.

What does this all mean in the grand scheme of things, then? Well, with University now completed as of last week (Randomness: I finally turned 21 last week too!..on the same day as my younger sister, weird ey?), it’s back to business – and by that I mean it. Though That Grape Juice was started out of my love for Urban Pop Culture, its success and the thousands of visitors we receive daily, mean I have a responsibility to deliver the very best. So, with that said, you can look forward to some exciting things in the in weeks and months ahead:

* New Bloggers: We are actively looking for new bloggers to join the That Grape Juice team. Off head, I’d say there are probably two places open – an Assistant Reporter and a dedicated Music (Album) Reviewer (or are there any other roles you feel you could fill? Let me know). There is a slight preference for bloggers who currently or have in the past blogged on other Urban Pop Culture sites – this is for practicality purposes i.e. usage of blogging platforms, knowledge of reliable sources etc. It goes without saying, but a majorly in-depth knowledge of Urban Pop Culture is essential, as is a high level of English. If you feel you’re up to the job, drop me an email at: sam@thatgrapejuice.net (Positions have a qualitative pay-off, as opposed to a monetary one LOL)

* A Move From Blogger to WordPress: Though many of you may not know the implications of this, you will LOL. In a nutshell, it means the site will be taken to the next level look-wise very soon. Also, That Grape Juice will be much more interactive.

* More Great Interviews: We already have some press time with some of your favourite artists in the coming month. So watch this space! (They will be up ASAP as well LOL)

* More Competitions: We are continuing to build great working relationships with many a company, which means we are in a position to run more competitions to win things you, as That Grape Juice readers, will love.

As well as all of this, you should expect all the things which have made That Grape Juice your Urban Pop Culture mainstay on the net.

Thank you so so so much for your continued support; and remember…

Keep it locked on That Grape Juice!

Drop any comments, suggestions in the comments section…

That Grape Juice Update….

26th May

Hold tight, guys…

I’ll be giving you the latest in a couple of hours.

In the meanwhile…

We are on location at Beyonce’s London 02 show tonight.

24th May

Stay tuned…

Important update coming shorty…

21st May

Beyonce – ‘Ego’ Video

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The video for Beyonce’s latest single ‘Ego’ premiered a few minutes ago on her official website. While the song has grown on me considerably and the featured choreography epitomizes fire (hot hot hot), nobody can tell me this wasn’t a recession-budget video – and this is coming from a Bey fan. I’m starting to think the lack of video anthology for ‘I Am…’ is perhaps for the best LOL, as bar the clips for the first two sinlges (‘If I Were A Boy’ and ‘Single Ladies’) everything else has been sub-par.

What do you think of the video?

New Song: Mariah Carey – ‘Hate U (Snippet)’

21st May

Boy, does it seem like some of the media invited to last night’s Def Jam music showcase didn’t care much for the ‘no recording’ rule which are always in place at such events. After the online surfacing of the new videos by Kanye West and The-Dream which premiered at the event, we now have a snippet of the new Mariah Carey single, which was also played.

Titled ‘Hate U’, the ballad was produced by Tricky Stewart and written by The-Dream. Judging from the small snippet, the track sounds pretty decent, head and shoulders above Mariah’s last outing with the production pair on ‘Touch My Body’.

LA Reid confirmed at the event what That Grape Juice been reporting for some time now, that Mariah’s new LP ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ (LMAO, this still cracks me up!) will be out in late August.

Hit or Miss?

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Kanye West – ‘Paranoid’ Video

21st May

BET Sound Off captured this footage from the Def Jam showcase last night…

Review in a bit…

In the meanwhile…

What do you think of the video?

The-Dream – ‘Walking On The Moon (ft. Kanye West) Video’

21st May

Footage from BET Soundoff Blog, who were at the Def Jam conference last night…

Review of video in a bit…

In the meanwhile…

What do you think of the video?

Exclusive: Usher Unveils Title Of New LP

20th May

We have just received word from Usher’s team that the Grammy award winning star’s forthcoming album will be titled ‘Monster’. The LP, the follow-up to last year’s ‘Here I Stand’ has been confirmed to hit stores this fall.

Hmm…an interesting title; one which, off the bat, sounds a little more playful and less declarative this go round. I’m definitely looking forward to this one. After the first half of the year didn’t really seem to deliver much in the way of major releases, save for a few, the second half looks like the time the heavy-hitters are dropping records i.e. Mariah, Usher and co.

Anyway, you know where you heard the title first!

Your thoughts?

First Look: Beyonce ‘I Am…’ Re-Release

20th May

People.com have just released the cover art and details of the official re-release of Beyonce’s ‘I Am…’ LP, which is titled ‘Above and Beyonce Video Collection and Dance Mixes’. The set will hit shelves in a CD/DVD format in June:

Beyoncé is releasing a new remix album and DVD collection on June 16 called Above and Beyoncé Video Collection and Dance Mixes – and PEOPLE.com has your first look at the cover art.
Among the tracks included on the collection is a remix of her song “Ego” featuring a guest appearance by Kanye West. “The song is fun,” says Beyoncé. “It talks about someone being very confident and having this swagger when they walk and when they talk.”
As for nabbing West, well, Beyoncé says the rapper – known for his outsized personality – was a good match. Recounting her conversation with West, Beyoncé says he agreed to do it, telling her, ” ‘Okay, so you have a song about an ego and you want me on the record?’ He’s like, ‘I love it. I’ll do it.’ ”
Above and Beyoncé will be available at Wal-Mart everywhere and J&R Music stores in New York City beginning June 16.

Check out the official tracklist for the set below:

1. “If I Were a Boy” 5:03
2. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” 3:20
3. “Halo” 3:44
4. “Diva” 4:06
5. “Broken-Hearted Girl” 4:31
6. “Ego” (Fan Exclusive) 3:56
7. “Ego” (Remix Feat. Kanye West) 4:47
8. Behind the Scenes
9. Credits
1. “If I Were a Boy” (Maurice Joshua Mojo UK Remix)
2. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (DJ Escape Club Version)
3. “Diva” (Karmatronic Club Remix)
4. “Halo” (Dave Aude Club)
5. “Broken-Hearted Girl” (Catalyst Remix)
6. “Ego” (DAC Remix)
7. “Sweet Dreams” (Karmatronic Remix)
8. “Ego” (Remix featuring Kanye West)

Where to start? The cover sure looks hot. But the tracklisting…not so much. I’m sure many were hoping for a full-on Anthology ala ‘B’ Day’, but I guess not this time. I actually detest them random-a** dance mixes artists seem to fling on their releases these days; it’s real baffling to see Bouncy do this as well, especially considering her core audience are are R&B/Pop listeners as opposed to Dance fans.

Your thoughts?

Michael Jackson Re-schedules Concert Opening

20th May

According to Billboard.com, Michael Jackson and his team have postponed the first 4 dates of his much anticipated ‘This Is It’ comeback concert:

Michael Jackson has delayed the opening four nights of his residency at London’s O2 arena.
The first show of the “This Is It” tour on July 8 has been pushed back by five nights. The other dates have gone back to March 2010.
An email from Ticketmaster and promoter AEG Live states: “Due to the sheer magnitude of the “This Is It” concerts at the O2 Arena promoters and producers AEG Live and Kenny Ortega, Michael’s directorial partner and creative collaborator have elected to move back a few of the opening shows in order to meet the challenges presented by such a massive and technically complex show.
“We wanted to ensure that all of Michael’s fans attending the concerts get the same quality in staging and level of entertainment.
“It is AEG Live’s sincere hope that those lucky enough to have purchased tickets will have enough time to change their personal schedules and travel plans if they are coming from outside of London.
“We do not want anyone to miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We understand the inconvenience this may have caused and for this reason we have secured some excellent hotel deals for Michael Jackson fans traveling to London on these rescheduled dates.”
Full refunds are available to those who can’t make the shows. There is no explanation for the delay.
Here’s the changed Michael Jackson dates:
8th July will take place on 13th July 2009
10th July will be moved to 1st March 2010
12th July will be moved to 3rd March 2010
14th July will be moved to 6th March 2010

Word has the show’s promoters AEG are claiming the scheduling of Madonna’s occupancy of the 02 a few days before MJ’s show was suppose to kick of, left the King of Pop will little-to-no time to rehearse. While the media will no doubt have a field day with this, I can’t say it’s that big a deal, the opening is just 4 days later. That said, I’d probably be humming a different tune if it was my August date that had been pushed back to next year. Ouch…

Your thoughts?

Mariah Carey Reveals New Album Name

20th May

Approximately four minutes ago, Mariah Carey revealed the name of her 12th studio album on her official Twitter page. The LP which is due out in August is titled ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’. {Source}

What can I say other than: it’s very Mariah LOL. Lord knows, the title of the album doesn’t half interest me as much as whether or not the material on it is any good. Mariah didn’t deliver the last go round with the mediocrity of ‘E=MC2’, so she’s gonna need to serve up the hotness with this new album.

What do you think of the title?