The voting polls for the 1st Annual That Grape Juice: End Of Year Awards are open NOW….

Click here to vote!
*Updated with Best Male & Female Awards*


Winners will be announced on December 31st

Sorry for the lack of updates people. The time of year has been a busy one for me, as I’m sure you can identify with. Anyway, check out the video for Ne-Yo’s latest single ‘Go On Girl’, which premiered recently:

Irrespective of how good the song/video is (neither are all that great IMO), I can’t help but feel that the handling of Ne-Yo’s second album has been a mess. After the success of the single ‘Because of You’, none of the chosen singles have made much sense to me. ‘Make It Work’ has ‘single’ written all over it, yet it seems to have been shafted in favor of lesser songs – considering ‘Go On Girl’ is likely the last single to be released from the album. Saying this…

What do you think of the song / video?

In order to ensure the process for voting goes smoothly, voting for the 1st Annual That Grape Juice: End Of Year Awards will begin this coming Monday (December 24th). To clarify, voting will be done via polls.
Prior to then, you can express your view on the current nominees list by clicking here.
{Picture credit: PerezHilton.com}
Check out this pic of Janet Jackson on the set of the video for her brand new single ‘Feedback’. Interesting. I’m guessing they’re going for a dark futuristic theme. Be on the lookout for the video’s premiere on January 1st on BET.

What do you think of the pic?
With Mary J. Blige on course to sell over 600,000 copies of her new album ‘Growing Pains’ in it’s first week on sale, there’s no denying the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul is onto a smash with her eighth studio effort.
Saying that, what do you think of ‘Growing Pains’? Which tracks are you feeling / dislike? Do you think Mary rose to the task of topping her 2005 mega-successful ‘Breakthrough’? Drop your views in the comment section.

Your thoughts?

The video for Chrisette Michelle’s latest single ‘Be OK’ premiered recently. I was kinda surprised to see this, as I was under the impression that Chrisette’s project had all but been abandoned. Considering ‘Be OK’ is one of the standout tracks from her ‘I Am’ album (IMO), I’m glad it got the single treatment. About the video, director Little X did a pretty good job; the vid is pretty simplistic, yet works all the same.

What do you think of the video?

It has been confirmed that R&B crooner Ruben Studdard, winner of season 2 of American Idol, has been dropped by his label J Records. Check out the report below via our friends over at SOHH:

After a promising start as winner of the second season of “American Idol,” Studdard seems to have fallen short of expectations and has been dropped from J. A rep from his label has confirmed the artist’s departure to SOHH.

Studdard’s first J Record release Soulful, released in 2003, is RIAA certified platinum. His 2004 gospel follow up, I Need An Angel also fared well – reaching gold status. However sales of his 2006 project The Return have been unable to match his previous success, moving barely 235,000 copies.

Can’t say I’ve been moved by Ruben’s music; that ‘Change Me’ track was my song for a minute though. Amid less than stellar sales from top artists, record labels all over are making cuts left, right and centre as the year closes out. Don’t be surprised if Ruben isn’t the only artist left looking for a new label in the weeks and months ahead.

Any thoughts?

The video for Fat Joe’s new single ‘I Won’t Tell’ made its debut yesterday on the rapper’s official MySpace page. Featuring 2007 breakout star J. Holiday, the song is the 2nd single to be lifted from Joe’s forthcoming album ‘The Elephant In The Room’ (due March 11th 2008). I’m feeling the song and the video is pretty good too. See if you can spot cameos by, among others, LeToya, Bow Wow, Christina Milian and Scott Storch. With his post-‘Lean Back’ efforts pretty much tanking, I’m sure Joe is hoping this puts him back on the map.

What do you think of the song / video?

Going back to 2001, this week’s ‘From The Vault’ video is the late Aaliyah’s ‘Rock The Boat’. As I’m sure you know, the video was filmed just hours before the R&B star tragically died in a airplane crash, along with several in her entourage. Arguably one of her best efforts, this video gave us all a glimpse at the makings of a superstar.

Gone, but never forgotten, Aaliyah’s legacy lives on through the great music her undeniable talent graced us with over the years.

Your thoughts?

Amazingly, Nicole Scherzinger is set to release the third single from her serially delayed LP ‘Her Name Is Nicole’ – without a release date for the album in sight. Titled ‘Puakenikeni’ (a word in her native Hawaiian tongue), the Akon produced single was voted to be the next single by fans on Nicole’s official website. I will say, for the record, that the song has the most substance to it when compared to the two abysmal efforts before it. However, three singles deep, the chances of Nicole’s album being anything less than terrible are unlikely IMO. Nicole does have a place in the industry, though – as part of the Pussycat Dolls. It’s not too late to go back.

Hit or Miss?

 

 

{Link Removed As Requested}

 

Mary J. Blige kicked off her week long stay on BET’s 106 & Park yesterday, performing current single ‘Just Fine’. Great energy, great vocals, great performance. As reported Mary’s eighth studio album ‘Growing Pains’ hits a store near you today.

What do you think of the performance?

Today sees the release of a number of R&B/Hip-Hop efforts. The Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul Mary J. Blige drops her long-awaited ‘Growing Pains’ LP today. Also Chingy releases ‘Hate It Or Love It’, his first album since re-grouping with Disturbing The Peace over at Def Jam. Not to be forgotten is Atlantic Records star Lupe Fiasco, who releases ‘The Cool’ – the much-anticipated follow-up to 2006’s critically acclaimed ‘Food & Liquor’. So…

Which album(s) will you be buying this week?
**