Remember when Azealia Banks was rap’s new “it chick”? Recall that brief window when her Twitter wars hadn’t eclipsed her star?

Well, we do.

There existed a short spell of time (following ‘212’) when the New Yorker was the name on everyone’s lips. Rumors of high-profile collaborations were plentiful, yet many never surfaced. A fact which left folk wondering whether it was her attitude or creative differences that caused the canning/s.

While many of those questions remain unanswered, one of her would-be partner’s has been revealed as none other than Lady Gaga.

A rough demo of ‘Red Flame’ – a song the pair collaborated on – surfaced today. And it makes for a unique listen.

Word has it the track was recorded during the recording sessions for Gaga’s ill-fated ‘ARTPOP’ album.

Take a listen below…

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From The Vault journeys back to 2008; a time when a newcomer with an eccentric style was morphing into the definitive “one to watch”. Today’s pick comes courtesy of Lady Gaga and her monumental smash, ‘Poker Face.’

Like the bulk of its parent album ‘The Fame,’ ‘Face’ was helmed by the mighty RedOne and saw Gaga proudly broadcast how much of a bluffing master she is.

It was serviced as the second single from the LP and just like its predecessor was a worldwide phenomenon – peaking at #1 not only in the US but also in the UK, France, Australia, Canada, and more.

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Directed by Ray Kay and Anthony Mandler, the song’s visual was – for many – the first time the “Gaga” proposition was presented in all its glory: creative scenography, edgy concepts, high fashion, and MTV-style choreography.

The single’s success is undeniably synonymous with its video, which earned the entertainer a whooping four MTV Video Music Awards nominations. Deservingly so.

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Talents like Gaga appear so infrequently that we’re not sure there has been an act as striking as her since her arrival. With towering high highs and challenging lows, Ms. Germanota has bagged herself a storied career in a mere 7 years. And, from where standing, we feel there are many more exciting chapters yet to be written.

Will LG5 be the era that turns it all around for Mother Monster and sees her regain her throne as the leading lady of Pop? We heartily hope so.

Your thoughts?

Adele has decided not to perform at next year’s Super Bowl Halftime show.

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Pharrell Williams has stepped into the lucrative world of children’s school supplies.

Full story below…

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Kevin Hart is a married man!

Yes, yesterday saw him wed his partner Eniko Parrish following a two year engagement in Montecito, California.

In attendance? Hart’s pals Ludacris, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue as well as several relatives who joined the couple as they exchanged vows before the comedian before the release of his new movie ‘Captain Underpants.’

The photographs above and below released to the general public shortly after the ceremony.

Your thoughts?

VH1’s ‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’ is to birth a spin-off series following the new life of its leading lady Joseline Hernandez.

Details on her new reality below…

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Tinashe is making quite the name for herself thanks to a potent potion of catchy tracks and dynamite performances.

New release ‘Superlove’ sees her excel on both fronts.

Not resting on her laurels, though, the rising star has hit the promotional trail in support of the track, which was produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream.

During a recent chat, she was quizzed on apparent Beyonce comparisons and offered an interesting response.

Excerpts after the jump…

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Gliding towards the release of his new album ‘1992‘ is The Game who, after teaming up with Soundz and Jeremih to drop heat on the latter’s next album, has unlocked a new cut of his very own.

Its name?

‘Sauce.’

They gave away my Grammy, gave it to Missy / I was too gangsta and they ain’t understand me.

It was poured out for fans minutes ago and was served up to support his ‘1992: Block Wars Tour‘ which hits the road on August 26th.

Press play to enjoy the latest paragraph in Game’s new creative chapter after the leap…

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Happiness has no timeline. Just ask Adrienne Bailon.

The singer turned TV host has announced her engagement to Gospel star Israel Houghton. It’s come come as a surprise to many, for it’s less than a year since ‘The Real’ anchor broke up with her longtime lover and fiance Lenny Santiago (of Roc Nation).

Full story and the announcement video await below…

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A a brief rest on the bench, Cover Star is back!

Today’s spotlight is shined on Florida bred songbird Mikayla Jade, who takes flight with Rihanna‘s ‘Kiss It Better.’

Despite its odd chart run, the cut remains one of the most-praised on the star’s ‘ANTI’ album.

How did Mikayla fare? Find out below…

Boasting a sweet tone and ample vocal control, Mikayla delivered with her delicious rendition.

Hers is a voice that is altogether lighter than the original, which helped put a fresh spin on the track. She also used it skilfully to showcase the different shades of her varied vocal palette.

Great performance.

For more on Mikayla, check out her YouTube channel here.

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Want to be featured on That Grape Juice’s ‘Cover Star’? Drop an email to sam@thatgrapejuice.net OR rashad@thatgrapejuice.net

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Your thoughts?

On April 8th 2003, Monica released ‘So Gone’ to aid the effort that was her LP ‘After the Storm.’

Penned by Missy Elliott and Spike & Jamahl, the jam saw the ‘Angel of Mine’ chanteuse find fresh chart glory following the chart-scorching single that was ‘The Boy is Mine’ when ‘Gone’ peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Today, over thirteen years later, a new generation of music lovers have taken to the net to express their admiration for the R&B effort by creating the ‘So Gone Challenge.’

In it, said fans take on the number’s rap section with their own lyrics inspired by life, love and ‘Miss Thang’ herself.

Their submissions are pretty awesome.

Check a few out below…

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Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature launched to revisit TV and Film’s entertaining yet occasionally difficult past.

Today, we make our back to 1939, the year in which the movie ‘Gone with the Wind’ was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

In it, we meet the feisty and vivacious belle Scarlett O’Hara, the daughter of a wealthy Irish man whose wealth depends on African-American chattel slavery.

Much to their dismay, their lives are turned upside down when the Civil War strikes the South and eradicates the lifestyle the enslaving and torture of enslaved Africans afforded them.

 

This forces young O’Hara to find her way in a world that soon becomes cold, dark and dangerous once the North’s efforts to dismantle slavery shatters the cotton-clad fantasy that is her life.

The critic Lou Lumenick had this to say about the problematic yet iconic release:

If the Confederate flag is finally going to be consigned to museums as an ugly symbol of racism what about the beloved film offering the most iconic glimpse of that flag in American culture? It buys heavily into the idea that the civil war was a noble lost cause and casts Yankees and Yankee sympathisers as the villains.

He added:

It goes to great lengths to enshrine the myth that the civil war wasn’t fought over slavery — an institution the film unabashedly romanticises.

Press play to see it for yourself below…

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