Ashanti turned up the volume during a recent performance of the classic ballad ‘Home’. The singer performed the song on Friday evening at Mayor Lorenzo Langford’s inaugural gala at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. Ashanti is currently hard at work on her next studio release which reportedly will hit stores later this year.

Ashanti’s vocals have improved by leaps and bounds since her debut. When she first emerged on the scene in 2002, many compared her voice to that of Jennifer Lopez. However, unlike Lopez, Ashanti has continued to push her voice further and improve her vocal craft over the years. Hopefully, she applies this passion to her next album and create something edgy and fresh like she did with ‘Only U’.

Thoughts?

As 2009 draws nearer to its close, we will be acknowledging the releases, events and shocking moments that have made the last 12 months one of music’s most memorable ever with our 3rd annual That Grape Juice: End of Year Awards.

Shaking things up somewhat from last year, the nominations process has been stream-lined this go round, with the provisional list of categories and nominees listed below. Prior to nominations going live and voting commencing this Thursday (December 17th), we’re keen to hear your feedback/suggestions on both the nominees and categories, which you can drop in the comments section below!

So quickly recapping, the final nominee list as well as actual voting goes live on December 17th. Winners will be thereafter announced on Christmas Day ( December 25th)!

(* For those wondering, Beyonce isn’t eligible for many of the awards as ‘Single Ladies’, as well as her album ‘I Am Sasha Fierce’ were both released in October 2008 – and were nominated/won many awards last year!)

That Grape Juice: End of Year Awards 2009 – The Nominees

Album of the Year

* The Fame Monster – Lady GaGa

* The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

* The E.N.D – Black Eyed Peas

*  I Look To You – Whitney Houston

* In A Perfect World – Keri Hilson

Single of the Year

* Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z (ft. Alicia Keys)

*  Pretty Wings – Maxwell

* Bad Romance – Lady GaGa

* I Gotta Feelin’ – Black Eyed Peas

The Michael Jackson Music Video of The Year Award

* Love, Sex, Magic – Ciara

* Russian Roulette – Rihanna

* Bad Romance – Lady GaGa

*I Can Transform Ya – Chris Brown

* Bad Boys – Alexandra Burke

Best Collaboration

* Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

* Knock You Down – Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo & Kanye West

* Video Phone (Extended Mix) – Beyonce & Lady GaGa

* Love, Sex, Magic – Ciara & Justin Timberlake

* Hard – Rihanna & Young Jeezy

Best New Artist

* Alexandra Burke

* Drake

* Kid Kudi

* Kesha

Best Female Artist

* Beyonce

* Lady GaGa

* Alicia Keys

* Ciara

* Rihanna

Best Male Artist

* Jay-Z

* Maxwell

* Drake

* Chris Brown

Best Club Banger

* Work – Ciara

* Obsessed – Mariah Carey

* Hard – Rihanna

* Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas

* I Can Transform Ya – Chris Brown

Best Live Performer (TV, Award Shows etc):

* Beyonce

* Janet Jackson

* Lady GaGa

* Jay-Z

* Ciara

The Kelly Rowland Underrated Artist of the Year Award

* Amerie

* Teairra Mari

* LeToya Luckett

* The-Dream

Most Slept On Album of the Year

* Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel – Mariah Carey

* In Love & War – Amerie

* Love vs Money – The-Dream

* Fantasy Ride – Ciara

* Graffiti – Chris Brown

The Please Go Sit Down Somewhere Award

* Rihanna

* 50 Cent

* Chris Brown

* Mariah Carey

Worst Single of the Year

* Wait Your Turn – Rihanna

* Why R U – Amerie

* Louboutins – Jennifer Lopez

* Happy – Leona Lewis

Worst Album of the Year

* Before I Self Destruct – 50 Cent

* More suggestions needed……

You Slippin’ // Step Your Game Up Award

* Mariah Carey

* 50 Cent

* Britney Spears

* Jennifer Lopez

* Rihanna

Recession Special: Worst Video of  the Year

* I Want To Know What Love Is – Mariah Carey

* Wait Your Turn – Rihanna

* I Get It In – Omarion

* Fresh Out The Oven – Jennifer Lopez

Most Shocking Event of 2009

* Kanye West VMA Outburst

* The Death of Michael Jackson (RIP)

* Whitney Houston’s Grammy Snub

Best Movie

* Precious

* This Is It

* Madea Goes To Jail

Most Anticipated Comeback For 2010

* Usher

* Kelly Rowland

* Janet

*IMPORTANT: This is NOT the vote itself. This is for feedback on the nominees list. Voting starts on Thursday*

Your thoughts / suggestions?

* Banner credit: Luca!!!

According to Mariah Daily Journal, the 39 year old diva is now set to release not one, bit two ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel‘ LP in the coming year. The first (the main) will comprise of R&B/Hip-Hop/Pop remixes, while the other will be a Dance record featuring Jump Smokers remixes of tracks from original LP.

Oh Mimi. So the original album sold triple wood, and instead of disappearing quietly and sparing herself any embarrassment, she drops two remix albums. Newsflash: If no one bought it the first time, they sure as hell won’t be buying the second, third, fourth?! It’s like there’s a 12 year old at the steering the wheel of her career at the moment. I mean, for a number of reasons, ‘Memoirs’ passed away a long time ago. Surely now would be the time to regroup, live a little and come back with something people will part with their money for.

Worse still for Mariah, when she does drop another project, she will be over 40 (that’s if she isn’t already…I’m not being a cow, there are legitimately reports that she is!) Not that I agree with the notion, but it’ll be problematic in that the industry appears to have a silent ‘you’re past it if over 40’ M-O – just ask Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Toni Braxton and Madonna (to a lesser extent). While some of the aforementioned are still snatching wigs and doing the damn thing, it’s clear they almost have to graft that much harder (almost like a new act) to garner radio play and support from the industry. With MiMi still attempting to sell her sex-appeal, which long expired, she’ll have an uphill struggle, unfortunately, trying to re-position herself in an industry she had in the palm of her hand just 3 years ago (damn you ‘E=MC2’ and ‘Memoirs’). Sigh…

Your thoughts?

{Written immediately following the show}

The American Music Awards 2009 has just come off the air on ABC…and where do I begin?! With a performer-list which read like a who’s-who of the music industry, the show – which took place at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles – most definitely hit a home-run in terms of star power. Whether these translated into memorable performances is the question. Read on for That Grape Juice’s 2 pence on tonight’s events…

Kicking off the night with a bang was Janet Jackson, whose 8-minute retrospective medley showed she still has ‘it’. Lacking, however, was the ‘has it – and then some’, which IMO really is essential for Ms. Jackson at this stage of her career. By this I mean though Janet commanded the stage with her trademark vigour and undeniable stage presence, what she displayed was kind of ‘hit’ and ‘miss’ in terms of propelling her back to the status of ‘the best’ in the minds of the masses. She did the damn thing on ‘Miss You Much’ and straight snatched off many a wig with ‘If’ (the breakdown of which never gets old, even after 15 years). However, the rest, particularly ‘Make Me’ didn’t translate as well – with the latter’s choreography really not doing the song any justice. I can’t help but think the chosen songs weren’t as on-the-ball as they could have been. Where was ‘All For You’, ‘Rhythm Nation’, or even ‘Feedback’ (the masses last real memory of la Jan)? Yes, it’s not her fault if some of her moves haven’t aged as well as she has (she looked great, minus the outfit), yet the song choice was in her hands, and as much as I remain a stan fan, in being 100% with you all, she kinda didn’t deliver in the way I thought she would have. Still, I’m sure she’ll bring her A-Game for her new album performances next year. She’s still force, and I have every faith she’ll deliver. On a lighter note, Jermaine Jackson’s botched sing-along to ‘Together Again’ had to be one of the funniest moments of the entire night!

Speaking of funniest moments, Rihanna’s live showing of ‘Madhouse’ and ‘Hard’ certainly had me chuckling, not only because it was the exact same performance I saw her give this Monday here in London, but because it was that bad. When not standing there like a lazy loaf of bread, she moved so sluggishly across the stage, all the while sounding like crap. How folks manage to defend her criminal vocals are well and truly beyond me. Honestly.

Interestingly, a moment many seemed to find much humour in, yet I didn’t, was Jennifer Lopez’ fall during her debut performance of brand new single ‘Louboutins’. If you ask me, Ms. Jenny The Block, J.Lo or whatever she likes to call herself these days, delivered a pretty solid performance – one which actually had me feeling the song a bit more. More than anything, she recovered so well from her fall, that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was part of her choreography. She may not be any kind of vocalist, but she sure knows how to perform. It’s a shame folk will likely only dwell on the negative, when she had a killer stage set-up and danced her derriere off.

Another of the night’s other great performances was Lady GaGa’s premier showing of ‘Bad Romance’ and ‘Speechless’, which though understated, still IMO pushed her further ahead of her contemporaries. Like the fire which lit her piano, GaGa performance was hot, hot, hot. Loved it.

I went to the toilet during the Eminem / 50 Cent performance.

More notable live showings were served up by Shakira and Mary J. Blige, who, if I am to be honest, weren’t at the top (or anywhere near) my most anticipated list prior to the show. However each brought their A-Game, which resulted in a pair of great performances respectively.

The Black Eyed Peas, for as much as I like them, just don’t offer me anything of substance live these days, so I phoned a friend when they came on…and got a bite to eat.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ rousing showing of ‘Empire State of Mind’ – despite essentially being the same performance, different show – strangely grabbed me more so than any of the other times I’ve seen them do it. I’m thinking it was Alicia’s soaring vocals on the anthem-esque hook that really got me this time. Speaking of Alicia, Ms. Keys had me fall in love with ‘Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart’ all over again with her performance. Though not the best mover and shaker, she was getting that choreography (anyone else notice the Ciara ‘Promise’ part?) and she took it church with her vocals (and backing arrangements). Phenomenal.

Highlight of the night, hands-down, goes to Whitney Houston who tore the house down with her emotional performance of ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’. The performance was everything – breakfast, lunch and dinner! Nippy’s vocals were the best they’ve been in years, with “The Voice” emanating from Whitney in ways many, myself at a time included, never thought they’d hear from her again. Yes, this was ‘Whitney 2009’, yet one who sits almost effortlessly beside Whitney of 1998 during her ‘My Love Is Your Love’ project. Putting to one side the media hype and hysteria, it legitimately felt like watching the crowning moment of one of the biggest comeback’s of all-time.

All in all, the American Music Awards 2009 delivered more than it didn’t. Great show.

Overall show rating: B+

Tidbit: Adam Lambert…c’mon son! LOL

Taylor winning over Michael Jackson?!  Kanye caused that ish…

Your thoughts?

Peep a stunning Whitney Houston posing it up with daughter Bobbi Kristina at last night’s American Music Awards. Bobbi-K has grown into a fine young lady herself!

Alicia Keys and Whitney. Tidbit: did anyone else see Whitney getting “crunk for Jesus” (trademark Miss Jia!) during Jay & Alicia’s ‘Empire State Of Mind’ performance?

Though Rihanna‘s performance was a steaming hot mess, she never disappoints on the fashion tip. She looked hot in the press portrait room!

Peep Jennifer Lopez giving her trademark “diva” for the papps. I feel sorry for her; she gave a relatively decent performance, only for everyone to dwell on her falling on her a**. Damn.

Jennifer and hubby Marc Anthony

Ne-Yo in the press portrait room…

Ms. Keri Hilson looks pretty in her press room shot, yet something looks different, which I can’t put my finger on (??)

Snoop Dogg.

What do you think of the looks?

With the eagerly anticipated American Music Awards 2009 about to get underway live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, That Grape Juice’s ‘American Music Awards 2009: Your Shout!’ area goes live right now! Tonight’s show boasts performances from Janet Jackson, Lady GaGa, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Eminem, and Whitney Houston. Something tells me this AMA’s will be one for the most talked about show of the year!

Watch the American Music Awards LIVE here!

UPDATED: Click here or here if link above doesn’t work

This is Your Shout!

As with all the major awards shows, That Grape Juice will be providing live on-the-minute coverage of the American Music Awards 2009, which take place this tomorrow (November 22nd) live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. News, commentary and of course performances, That Grape Juice will be the spot for them all!

The AMA’s this year boasts a performers list unlike any other in recent years, with the likes of Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lady GaGa, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys all taking to the stage, this will be unmissable!

As we reported last week (one of the first to do so too), Janet Jackson will be taking to the stage at the American Music Awards on November 22nd. Today, the performance, which will air live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. has been officially confirmed, with it also revealed that Ms. Jackson will be opening the show with a special 8-minute medley!

Speaking on Janet’s performance, American Music Award producer Larry Klein said:

“We’re thrilled about having Janet Jackson open this year’s show. She is an incredibly dynamic performer, and I think the audience will be excited to see what she has in store.” {Source}

With previously announced performers including Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Shakira, Lil’ Wayne, Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, the Black Eyed Peas and Kelly Clarkson, this show already seems to be the definitive award show to watch this year. Next Sunday couldn’t come any sooner!

Your thoughts?

A long list of celebrities (from A to Z-list) came out the simultaneous premieres of Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ which were held in various cities around the world. Venues included New York, Los Angeles, London and a several others. Peep the action below:

Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, and Marlon Jackson (from left to right) were there looking rather sharp I must say.

Jermaine Jackson and his wife on the other hand…At least his outfit distracts us from that hair. Can’t miss out on some camera time can you Jermaine?

Jennifer Lopez rocked the carpet in this stunning black number. Is it me or aren’t a lot of the women in the game wearing black lately?

Will Smith was the life of the party as usual. Gotta love this guy!

Former ‘American Idol’ judge Paula Abdul made it to the event as well (clearly without the help of a stylist).

Finally, we have Vivica A. Fox, who was also wearing black (see what I mean!), looked sexy in this little (and tight) number.

What do you think of the looks?