It’s pretty clear that ELLE magazine is quite fond of ‘Firework’ wailer Katy Perry.
Last month saw the popstress cover the U.K. version of the mag while this month sees her afront it’s Canadian sister publication showing off an 60’s-inspired look (featuring some of designers Alexander Wang, Louis Vuitton, and Mariano Vivanco‘s threads in both issues).
Unlike the U.K. version, the Canadian feature story has been greeted with much more noise as the ‘Roar’ songstress has made headlines for comments made about BFF Rihanna‘s drug use.
Were her comments worth all the fuss that ensued afterward? Read them below and tell us:
From India to Vegas, Aussie hip hopstress Iggy Azalea unveils the visual for ‘Change Your Life’ – the latest jam from her forthcoming album ‘The New Classic’.
Featuring mentor/Grand Hustle labelmate T.I., the tune marks the third release from Azalea’s highly anticipated debut album and sees her flex her cinematic muscle in ways like never before.
Looking for a serving of epic? This Jonas & François-directed clip might just be what the doctor ordered…
After watching her celebrity stock plummet following her split with Kanye West, ‘Fame’ purveyor Amber Rose has enlisted one of the industry’s more unassuming power players to steer her career back in the right direction.
A power player, who answers to the name Tish Cyrus…Miley Cyrus‘ mother.
No more than a week after taking the single to the 30th annual VMAs, Robin Thicke welcomes the arrival of good news today, signed, sealed and delivered by the Billboard Hot 100.
Credited for introducing her once underground cause to the mainstream, Perez Hilton no doubt stands as an integral character in Lady GaGa‘s story, championing the star well before she came to the mainstream’s attention.
Alas, much like Rihanna‘s performance in ‘Battleship‘, things took a sharp turn for the worst when it emerged that the pair had gone from friends….to foes.
Now, as she continues to support and empower youth of all demographics, the star has revealed that she too remains a victim of bullying.
Two of modern R&B’s most prized acts, Janelle Monae and Robin Thicke, get the party started in the 20th anniversary issue of VIBE magazine.
Doubling as the mag’s ‘summer’ issue, the dynamic duo serve as the cover stars for one of the three covers commemorating the occasion (one has Nas with J.Cole and the other Daft Punk with Pharrell Williams).
And, while we are tickled with excitement for Monae’s ‘The Electric Lady’ (set to charge to stores in less than a month), we’re still getting down to Thicke’s latest ‘Blurred Lines’ (which rocked both Hot 100 and Billboard 200’s top spot last week). Until we see its performance on the tally this week, see below for Thicke & co. showing off for Vibe:
This week’s From The Vault pick was released in 2001 and is quite literally what “Urban-Pop dreams” are made of. We present you Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On?’ by ensemble cast Artists Against AIDS Worldwide.
The project, which consisted of numerous remixes of the Pop-Culture landmark (each time featuring different vocalists), was helmed in a bid to raise funds for AIDS programs in Africa and other poverty-stricken territories. Though recorded prior the 9/11 tragedy, the track was released in October 2001 and saw 50% of its profit also going to the United Way’s 9/11 fund (with the half going to the AIDS relief effort).
Featuring an All-Star line-up of 2001’s finest acts, two radio versions made the rounds. Both produced by Bono and Jermaine Dupri, they saw acts such as Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Usher, *N’SYNC, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Nelly, Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez, Lil Kim, Nas, Wyclef Jean, TLC, Nelly Furtado, Backstreet Boys, Diddy, Gwen Stefani, Mary J.Blige, Eve and Monica to name but a few, trade verses and lines. Marvin’s daughter, Nona Gaye, is also featured aptly singing the “father, father” line.
Without any promotion, the song managed to peak at #27 in the US and an impressive #6 on the UK charts.
The videos, cooked up courtesy of Jake Scott, depict the artists as they remove “labelled” blindfolds from their eyes, symbolizing how society is blinded by prejudice and how we need to open our eyes… which ties in perfectly with the original message of the masterpiece of a track that is ‘What’s Going On?‘
It’s happenings like this one that make “Pop” (in the broader sense) one of the most exciting genres in mainstream music. In addition to being a tremendous initiative to raise awareness about AIDS and give back to the American Red Cross, it had the huge selling point of featuring all the top artists of that time on a single track – in similar fashion as Bob Geldof‘s Band Aid and Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie‘s USA For Africa – providing the genre’s enthusiasts with a glimpse of what their favorites acts would sound like together, also serving up some odd pairings that, somehow, “work”.
Great track for a great cause!
With this gem being recorded over a decade ago and the industry constantly changing, we’d like to know…
Is your ‘fave’ still relevant?
Bonus: Peep the video for JD’s R&B remix after the jump…
Despite spawning many a musical mishap, little can take away from JLS‘ impact on the UK’s Pop scene during their short but sweet time at the top.
Now, after losing the bulk of their audience to rival group One Direction, the now inactive JLS saw their lead singer Aston Merrygold take to Balearic Island, with long time pal / Olympic gymnast Louis Smith.
Lighting up while catching a tan at the ‘Ocean Beach Club‘, the vocalist was snapped in the company of friends and fans one year after Smith picked up a silver medal at last year’s Olympics, and months after JLS announced their demise here.
Last week Billboard unveiled a series of countdowns celebrating the 55th anniversary of the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ – the standard chart ranking system of today’s popular music.
Highlighting everything from the top 100 songs to every #1 song since the tally’s 1958 inception, the article courted little backlash given the fact they were based on legit statistics and not popular opinion…that is, until they unveiled the Hot 100’s top acts.
Now – days after the listing first hit the net – some fans are still up-in-arms about how pop icon Madonna landed as the top solo act in history, beating the likes of Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. A feat all the more alarming when some recount the number of chart-toppers rivals Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey have had as well.
So, as always, we turn to you – That Grape Juice faithful – for your input. Is this worth the fuss?
Only right then, that after watching ‘Next To Me’ quietly makes it way to Platinum in the US, the performer takes higher aim at the mainstream…announcing her very own American stage show!
A mere matter of weeks separate Big Sean fans from the rapper’s sophomore album ‘Hall Of Fame’.
Due August 27th, the official tracklist for the hotly anticipated set (the follow-up to 2011’s ‘Finally Famous’) was unwrapped moments ago.
As you’ll see after the jump, the G.O.O.DMusic star has called on a number of notable names for the LP – which -given its make or break nature – is arguably the most important project he’ll ever release.
Frank Ocean has been forced to part way with Drake‘s annual ‘OVO Fest’ this year, after suffering a vocal chord tear during the Australian leg of his world tour last week.
