The video shoot for Ashanti’s new single ‘The Way That I Love You’ only wrapped last week, however has made its way onto the internet early. Check it out:

Stans, haters and all those inbetween, you can’t deny that this is one of the best videos released in a long while…conceptually, at least. This is, perhaps, the first song in the last few months to actually do the song – which I must add is great – equal justice. With such an awesome song and video, I really think Ashanti may silence the naysayers with this one.

What do you think of the video?

It is being reported that popular CW show Girlfriends has been cancelled aprubtly. Check out the report via EUR Web:

We hear from a source within the “Girlfriends” writing camp that the CW has decided to cancel the series immediately instead of bringing it back for a ninth season.

While no official announcement had been made as of press time, we were told the CW will not even film this season’s remaining nine episodes that were suspended during the writer’s strike.

Ironically, news of the show’s cancellation comes just as the strike has ended and the writing staff was preparing to return to work. We were informed by one of the writers yesterday that Monday night’s one-hour block of new episodes served as the show’s last.

“Girlfriends” became the longest-running live-action comedy series currently on network television with the debut of its current season in October 2007. The writers strike suspended production after only 13 of 22 ordered episodes were completed.

The series, created by Mara Brock-Akil, was consistently the No. 1 show in black households since its Sept. 11, 2000 debut. Original cast members Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White and Jill Marie Jones starred as a group of close friends dealing with life and love in Los Angeles. Jones left the series in at the end of Season 6.

Granted the show was never the same after Toni (played by Jill Marie Jones) left, it’s kinda wrong for the show to be dropped just like that. No finale, come on now. What’s with all the black shows disappearing, without any real replacements?

Any thoughts?

Mariah Carey’s brand new single ‘Touch My Body’ premiered today on B96. Well, having listened to this, I feel I could write an essay and then some. A mixed bag of feelings to say the least.
Written and produced by Tricky Stewart and The Dream (the team behind ‘Umbrella’), the track is undeniably catchy and has a serious ‘bounce’ to it. However, the lyrics..lord, the lyrics. ‘I best not catch this on Youtube’? What the hell. Lyrically, the song sounds as if it were written for a new artist and is very un-Mariah (and not in a good way). Whether considered good or bad, I’ve also noticed Mariah doesn’t vocally exert herself as she did on much of the ‘Emancipation of Mimi’. Saying that, she obviously had issues delivering those tracks live her last go round, so maybe it’s a good thing?
Still, a decent effort which has me anxious to hear what the rest of the album is set to serve up.

Hit or Miss?

*As per advice by many of concerned visitors and fellow bloggers, I’ve removed the stream link and added it here. What’s happening to KeviPod etc is ridiculous*

With Mariah Carey’s new single ‘Touch My Body’ set to premiere today (keep it locked here for it), it has been revealed that the singer’s forthcoming album will *not* be titled ‘That Chick’ and instead will go by ‘E=MC2’. {Source}

Interesting….’That Chick’ was a joke of a title, so I’m glad she’s come up with something that seems like it has a little substance to it.

What do you think of the title?

The Game Sentenced To 60 Days In JailFollowing the news earlier this month that rapper The Game will serve time in the slammer on gun charges, BBC News reports he was, today, handed his sentence:

US rapper The Game has been jailed for 60 days after he admitted possessing a gun at a basketball game at a school. The Game – real name Jayceon Terrell Taylor – was also given 150 hours of community service and ordered to spend three years on probation.

Considering it was previously reported he’d be serving 4 months, I think he got off lightly. Saying that, what’s up with these artists and abiding by the law. SMH…


Any thoughts?

Trina’s video for ‘Single Again’, the first release to be lifted from her forthcoming album ‘Still Da Baddest’, premiered yesterday on Yahoo Music. The song has grown on me considerably since first hearing it and the Billie Woodruff directed video makes me like it even more. Granted the vid isn’t without it’s flaws (the pool scene..hmmm..no), this is probably Trina’s best video to date. ‘Still Da Baddest’ is set to drop in April via Slip-N-Slide/EMI.

*That Grape Juice’s awesome interview with Trina will be posted soon *

What do you think of the video?

Natalie Cole: Winehouse Didn't Deserve Grammy's It appears not everyone was pleased with Amy Winehouse’s big win at yesterday’s Grammy Awards. Singer Natalie Cole has expressed her disapproval:

“I don’t think she deserved it,” previous Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole said. “I think she needs to get her life together first, and then get the awards later.”

Winehouse took a break from rehab to perform via satellite from London at the Grammys and collect five awards.

Cole also called Winehouse “crazy,” and complained that we are teaching youngsters that they can get rewarded for bad behavior. {Source}

While I can see where Cole’s coming from, her comments make no sense. Yes Amy was a mess and whatnot, but that doesn’t take away from the brilliance that was her ‘Back To Black’ album. Is Natalie implying that Amy’s stupidity should be punished by not rewarding her music – no matter how good? I respect Natalie and her achievements, but surely she’d be better off engaging her brain before making such silly a comment.

Your thoughts?

R&B star Kelly Rowland sang the American national anthem at the Hawaii Pro Bowl yesterday (February 10th). She nailed it! Her live vocals, as of late, have really been on-point. Great performance.

What do you think of Kelly’s rendition?

Beyonce, Jay-Z & Michelle At Sony BMG Party

Following her performance at the Grammy’s at the Beyonce attended the Sony BMG Grammy after-party, along with Jay-Z, and Destiny’s Child bandmate Michelle Williams. John Mayer and Aretha Franklin and John Mayer were among the other celebrities who also stopped by the party.

What do you think of the pic?
50th Annual Grammy Award WinnersSoul singer Amy Winehouse flew the UK flag high at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards by winning five of the six awards she was nominated for. Rapper Kanye West also scored big on the show, taking home four of the industry’s highest honors. Check out the full list of winners below:

Album of The Year:
Herbie Hanock – ‘River: The Joni Letters’
Record Of The Year:
Amy Winehouse – ‘Rehab’
Song Of The Year:
Amy Winehouse – ‘Rehab’

Best New Artist:
Amy Winehouse
Best Female Pop Vocal:
Amy Winehouse – ‘Rehab’
Best Male Pop Vocal:
Justin Timberlake – ‘What Goes Around’
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Amy Winehouse – ‘Back to Black’
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:
Alicia Keys – ‘No One’
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance:
Prince – ‘Future Baby Mama’
Best R&B Album:
Chaka Khan – ‘Funk This’

Best Contemporary R&B Album:
Ne-Yo – ‘Because Of You’

R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals:
Chaka Khan (ft. Mary J. Blige) – ‘Disrespectful’

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:

Gerald Levert – ‘In My Songs’

Urban/Alternative Performance:

Lupe Fiasco (ft. Jill Scott) – ‘Daydreamin’
Best Rap Solo Performance:
Kanye West – ‘Stronger’
Best Rap Album:
Kanye West – Graduation
Best Rap Song:
Kanye West – ‘Good Life’
Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group:
Kanye West & Common – ‘Southside’
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Rihanna & Jay-Z – ‘Umbrella’
The biggest upset of the night undeniably Jazz star Herbie Hancock taking home the coveted Album of The Year award – a category both Kanye and Amy were nominated in. I’m also kinda puzzled as to how Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ pick up more than it did. Nothing for Beyonce’s ‘Irreplacable’ either. I guess, a song being a monster hit doesn’t necessarily equate into a Grammy – and rightfully so.

What do you think of the winners list?
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place tonight at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Muisc’s biggest stars were out in full force for the industry’s most prestigous event. Check out performances from the show below, as well as That Grape Juice’s take on them afterward:

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As reported, the legendary Clive Davis hosted his annual Pre-Grammy Award party last night in LA. Two of the night’s big performers included Fantasia and UK singing sensation Leona Lewis. Fantasia performed ‘I’m Here’, a song from her stint as Celie in the Broadway adaptation of ‘The Color Purple’ (she recently wrapped up her time on the show) and Leona belted out her record breaking single ‘Bleeding Love’. Check out their performances below:

Fantasia – ‘I’m Here’

Woah! She really took it to CHURCH on that one. She S-A-N-G! Could have done without some of the vocal rifting at the end, but who cares, it’s Fantasia. Good stuff.

Leona Lewis – ‘Bleeding Love’

Great performance. I felt proud of her; having watched her get her big break on the X-Factor and now performing (and nailing it) in front of her industry contemporaries, it really hit me that she is destined for big things – and deservedly so. She is an amazing talent.

What do you think of the performances?

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