All of the monarchs of the music industry are resting securely on cemented thrones.  We have an undisputed Queen of Soul, King of Rock n’ Roll, King of R&B, and of course, a King of Pop.  Even though such title was initially self-proclaimed, there was no denying its delegation.  Interestingly, there is a vacancy on that list…the queen’s chair sits ostensibly empty.  And though many may vie and eye the throne, no woman has boldly professed herself as such (unlike her male counterpart).  So, it begs the question:  Who is the Queen of Pop?   While there are candidates many-a-fan would crown as such, there has been no definitively, unquestioned female pop potentate. And then…

In an age where the merit of ‘pop royalty’ is defined by fly-by-night radio hits and digital downloads, famed music magazine Rolling Stone developed an index of criteria to best crown the genre’s new queen.  For anyone who has been alive for the last three years (inhabitants of the animal kingdom included), it was a no brainer that Lady Gaga would be enthroned the genre’s reigning female monarch.  However, the list, which only included Pop’s active acts, was greeted with so much backlash it was later revised.

But, even the revision still featured Lady Gaga (a relative newcomer) above legends Mariah Carey and Celine Dion (with no mention of Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston).  While the magazine’s attempt to fill the void is applaudable, it is also laughable.  With music’s other matronly monarchs having a spate of success under their individual belts, is it really fair to say the Lady named queen would only have two albums under hers and less than 5 years in the game?

Thusly, That Grape wants to know:  what should be the criteria for determining queenship? Sales? Influence?  Awards?  If so, with so many candidates, who is the Queen[Q1] ?

That Grape Juice has chosen six leading ladies who would probably be the real contenders for the throne.  Each of the succeeding songstresses have, at minimum, 20 years experience,100 million records sold, and immeasurable influence over the industry (especially over those who decorated Rolling Stones’ list).  Did your fave make the cut?

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She is one of the only artists who has been able to score high sales figures despite being in the era of ‘song leaks’ and illegal downloading.

Now, Lady GaGa has given her thoughts on what she feels is the real reason some artists struggle to shift commendable units.

Check out what she had to say below…

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Lady GaGa is most certainly expanding her media empire far beyond the realms of music and supporting visuals.

For the starlet’s ‘Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: at Madison Square Garden’ has obtained 5  Emmy nods, the very first set of nominations she has ever received from the well respected award ceremony.

Find out more below..

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In an open letter to fans, rapper Bow Wow made a number of revelations. Not that we ever noted there to be overwhelming interest, but  the 24 year old, real name Shad Moss, was reportedly addressing hearsay that he had a daughter – hearsay he ultimately confirms as true.

However, perhaps most noteworthy in the lengthy note was Moss’ statement about wanting to commit suicide.

Read his comment in its entirety after the jump…

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Billed as career-defining moment before it even took place, Kelly Rowland‘s sizzling showing at the BET Awards last night most certainly lived up that title and then some.

That Grape Juice visitors have expressed their thoughts on the performance, but what did Rowland’s industry contemporaries have to say when they took to Twitter?

Find out after the jump…

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In continuing to expand our cause, That Grape Juice will, alongside our staple celebrity interviews, also serve up candid features with noted names behind the glitz of the industry. What better way, then, to continue this foray into the relatively unknown, than with a sit-down chat with acclaimed songwriter Claude Kelly.

The much-sought after songwriter, who has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston, talks openly with us about how he broke into the industry, working with Whitney Houston and her ‘new’ voice, Christina Aguilera’s ‘Bionic’, how he’d mastermind a Ciara comeback and much more.

As ever, we ask the questions you really want answers to. And answer Kelly did. A great read, if we must say so ourselves! Enjoy.

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Yesterday, the Parents Television Council released a statement slamming the visual for the latest Rihanna single ‘Man Down‘. Now, the Nivea model has hit back at the claims the video endorsed the use of weapons and vigilantism.

Find out what she had to say below…

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Check out R&B diva Alicia Keys posing it up in the latest issue of ‘W’ magazine.

The soulful songstress is celebrating 10 years since the release of her debut effort ‘Songs In A Minor’. Speaking to the publication about breaking into the business, she said:

“I just wanted to be who I was, which was like so many other girls I knew. We grew up in the city, had a hard edge and obstacles to overcome, but we were still young and beautiful. I didn’t want to be all dressed up, all made up—I wanted to be myself, which hadn’t been done before.”

“I was a young girl with very strong ideas but no experience. I just knew that everything else I was doing was wrong—that all the suggestions weren’t what was in my mind, they weren’t what it was meant to be.”

“How terrible would it have been if I had come out with some watered-down version of who I am? People fell in love with the real me, and I still feel blessed that that was how the journey began.” {Source}

Your thoughts?

No…time…to..waste

This seems to be the mantra Beyonce‘s team are adhering to. For after reigniting interest in ‘Run The World (Girls)’, and generating a buzz with album cut ‘1+1’, the superstar is to release the 2nd official single from her forthcoming ‘4’ LP next week.

Details after the jump…

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*Pinned: Normal Posts Resume Below*

Not one to hold her tongue, Tamar Braxton has ironically emerged as the most talked about aspect of  ‘Braxton Family Values’.

Indeed, her sassy, tell-it-like-it-is manner has seen the 34 year strike a chord with viewers of the hit WeTV reality series, which focuses on her life, as well as those of her sisters, Trina, Towanda, Traci – and  the legendary Toni Braxton.

Keen as ever to break out from behind the shadows of her siblings, Tamar talks it up with That Grape Juice about many a topic including: the re-launch of her solo career, whether she feels her antics on the show will harm it, critique of her marriage, being inspired by Beyonce, season two of ‘Braxton Family Values’ and much more!

As ever, we ask the questions you really want answers to. Ms. Braxton, as you’ll see, answers and then some.

Tamar Braxton Shouts Out That Grape Juice

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This week has seen the buzz for Beyonce‘s new LP ‘4’ intensified. Indeed,the media scape has seen teaser after titillating teaser diffused by the singer’s camp to heighten interest in the eagerly anticipated project.

Building on that, a US listening party for the set was held at Sony Music HQ’s yesterday. The event, which saw select outlets treated to 5 songs from the LP; attendees were also privy to an advanced of the ‘Run The World (Girls)’ video which premieres tomorrow.

Peep the song by song break down courtesy of Just Jared after the jump…

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Alas! Finally some good news for R&B legend Toni Braxton.

The singer and her sister’s hit reality series ‘Braxton Family Values’ has been renewed for another season by WE tv; with its renewal coming after just 4 episodes into its debut season

Full press release after the jump…

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