With 2007 rapidly coming to end, I felt it beffiting to acknowledge the releases, events etc that have made the last 12 months as memorable as they have been. What better way to mark this than to host the 1st Annual That Grape Juice: End Of Year Awards.

Album of the Year

Alicia Keys – As I Am
Kanye West – Graduation
Mario – Go!
Mary J. Blige – Growing Pains
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Kelly Rowland – Ms. Kelly

Single of the Year

Fantasia – When I See You
Alicia Keys – No One
Keyshia Cole – Let It Go
Rihanna – Umbrella
J. Holiday – Bed
Kanye West – Stronger

Best Video:

Kanye West – Good Life
Ciara – Like A Boy
Beyonce – Get Me Bodied
R. Kelly – Same Girl (ft. Usher)

Best Collaboration:

Chris Brown & T-Pain- Kiss Kiss
Kelly Rowland & Eve – Like This
50 Cent & Justin Timberlake Ayo Technology
Timbaland & Keri Hilson – The Way I Are
R. Kelly & Usher – ‘Same Girl’

Best New Artist:

Amy Winehouse
J. Holiday
Tiffany Evans
The Dream

Best Female Artist:

Alicia Keys
Mary J Blige
Keyshia Cole
Kelly Rowland

Best Male Artist

Chris Brown
Kanye West
Mario
J. Holiday
Jay-Z

The Kelly Rowland Underrated Artist Of The Year Award

Amerie
Mario
Tamia
Trey Songz

The Please Go Sit Down Somewhere Award

Rihanna
Nicole Scherzinger
50 Cent
Souljah Boy

Most Overrated Artist:

Rihanna
Beyonce
Fergie

Worst Single Of The Year:

Chris Brown – Wall to Wall
Nicole Scherzinger – Baby Love
Souljah Boy – Crank That

Flop of the Year:

Kelly Rowland
Jennifer Lopez
Will.i.am

Most Shocking Event of 2007:

Bobby and Whitney Divorcing
Beyonce Falling Down Stairs
Britney’s Shambolic VMA Performance/Going Crazy

Best Reality TV Show:

Making the Band 4
Runs House
Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is
I Love New York 2

Best TV Show:

Girlfriends
Everybody Hates Chris
The Boondocks
The Game

What do you think of the nominee list?

VH1’s annual Hip Hop Honors show aired in the US yesterday (October 8th). Among those recognized for their contributions to Hip Hop was rapper/producer Missy Elliot. Tweet, Timbaland, Eve, Keyshia Cole and Ciara performed an awesome medley of Elliot’s hits. It kinda served as a reminder of what a great talent Missy is and how much she has pushed the boundaries in Urban music.

What do you think of the performance?

The Screamfest tour hit New York’s Madison Square Garden yesterday (August 22nd) and looked to be a great show all-round. Hip Hop showed out in a major way with Jay Z, Diddy, T.I, Kanye West and 50 Cent (you read right) appearing on stage together. Check out more pics of the event below:

Yung Joc

Ciara was joined by 50 Cent again

That first pic of 50 standing alone is priceless lol…though I’m sure it was just taken at the wrong time. Kanye and 50 onstage together is kinda suspect, but I doubt their ‘chart battle’ is a publicity stunt (as some will no doubt be thinking) – they were never ‘beefing’ (like that) to begin with. LMAO at Yung Joc – since when did rappers do strip teases?

What do you think of the pics?

Jennifer Hudson & Jennifer Holliday – ‘And I Am Telling You’

T.I. – Big Things Poppin’

Diddy (w/ Keyshia Cole & Lil’ Kim) – ‘Last Night’

Beyonce & Kelly Rowland – ‘Get Me Bodied’ / ‘Like This’

Ciara – Like A Boy / That’s Right

Robin Thicke – Lost Without You

50 Cent – Amusement Park

Eryka Badu – Diana Ross Tribute

Judging from some of these performances as well as viewer reports, this years show was definitely one of the better instalments of the annual event. Performance of the night, in my opinion, goes to Beyonce and Kelly Rowland’s joint showing. Everything about the performance was on-point; Beyonce nailed ‘Get Me Bodied’ and Kelly had her ‘coming out of the shadows’ moment by tearing down the stage with ‘Like This’ alongside Eve. Another notable performance was from Ciara, who did her thing with a medley of ‘Like A Boy’ and future single ‘That’s Right’. She has definitely upped her stage presence and live vocals too. I also really liked the Dreamgirls opening- which saw Jennifer Hudson perform ‘And I Am Telling You’ with the original Effie, Jennifer Holliday. It was a monumental moment seeing Jennifer Holliday finally get her moment to truly shine as Effie. On a side note, her facial expressions are still priceless lol. 50 Cent’s performance didn’t go…well just watch it lol. Overall it seemed like a great show.

R&B superstar Beyonce has officially been added to list of performers at the 2007 BET Awards. Also confirmed to perform at the event is Beyonce’s fellow Destiny’s Child band-mate Kelly Rowland. The pair join an already star-studded line-up of performers including 50 Cent, T.I. Ciara and Ne-Yo. Comedienne Mo’Nique hosts the awards which will air live on June 26th.

Whose performance are you most wanting to see?

Future Appearances

Janet will be at Jennifer Hudson’s pre-Oscar party held by Jamie Foxx this Wednesday, so I guess we can expect new pics soon.
Janet will be visiting the board when things are set in stone. She’s really busy right now, so that’s why she hasn’t been on here.

Tour/Business Affairs

Janet still has a manager and a publicist and once things are cleared up, she will future events will be announced.
Janet is currently in Los Angeles
Janet wants to tour for the fans and we won’t hear about a tour unless it’s coming from a PR person. When that will happen is unclear.
The tour is supposed to be worldwide, including Europe and Australia; they want to hit up everywhere.
The concepts, the choreography, the staging, setlist, costumes, etc. have already been completed for the tour.
When asked if Janet still owed Virgin anything on her contract, he said Janet doesn’t owe anyone anything, so I guess we can take it that her contract obligation is completed.
The tour is supposed to be an all out dance/artistic show.
The tour will not open nor will it end with Weekend and Just a Little While
As far as getting good seats, some people in the back might win front row seats as well as diehard fans.
The dancers are fine
The Call on Me choreography will be on the tour
There will be a Meet and Greet
Do it 2 Me and other uptempo songs off of 20 Y.O. will be performed

Future business/life

Janet is talking to another label right now, but the label she is considering is remaining confidential and she is getting offers from different labels.
She is NOT pregnant (I told yall rolleyes.gif )
It is uncertain whether or not she would release one of her old concert DVD’s
He also suggested she should release her unreleased songs and that might actually happen
Janet will make a deep album and voice her opinion
Empty will not be performed
It was Janet’s idea to have less girls; Danielle was not meant for a group thing, which is why she’s no longer there.
Some of her music will be used as a soundtrack but the time frame is unknown
There will be a new fan site
This board will probably be closed
No future promo for 20 Y.O., including performances

Miscellanous Janet information

Janet is hands on with her myspace.
She won’t be collaborating with Diana Ross
Janet’s stylist is Kim Bowen who doesn’t have a website
Janet is fine and stronger than ever
Janet respects all artists, Ciara is unfortunately included.
She is not insecure about her legs
She is always looking at possible movie roles, but none are in the imminent future
Janet has never been irate with one of her dancers
Likes to watch 20/20 and the news
Doesn’t discuss Jermaine and Latoya on reality TV shows
Invites past dancers to parties, and throws a party after a tour is finished
It was her manager’s suggestion that “S.Ex” be written on that wall during her Billboard performance.
Feelings for Madonna are unknown (thus you can interpret that how you like)
If you don’t like her sexual stuff, you don’t have to stay
Loves antiques and paintings
Never has gotten into a fight that Gil had to break up
Janet did not fight Paula; Gil claims that Paula probably fought herself.