Like millions the world over, we love us some ‘Scandal’ here at That Grape Juice TV!
And while the Shonda Rhimes serial has captivated courtesy of Kerry Washington and a consistently epic script writing, actress Bellamy Young has also emerged as one the show’s biggest assets.
Young, who plays (and slays) the role of First Lady Mellie, is renown for serving up meddling performances on the ABC hit.
This week saw the 43-year-old stop by The Wendy Williams Show to discuss her breakout success, the show’s astronomical rise, and much more. An insightful watch. Check it out below…
Kelly Rowland may have her focus on The X Factor as of late, yet the FOX show hasn’t halted her musical hustle. For, the R&B diva has teamed up with the genre’s king, R. Kelly.
Rowland, who herself released a new album this year in the form of ‘Talk A Good Game’, joins the Pied Piper on ‘All The Way’ – a track on the crooner’s latest LP ‘Black Panties’.
Watch below as the 32-year-old spills on the collabo, her love for Sevyn Streeter, and more. The official tracklisting for ‘Panties’ also awaits after the jump…
The Best You Never Heard is back! Each week will once again see That Grape Juice spotlight an array of little known gems. Featuring picks from the TGJ editorial team, we want to know…who chose the best song! Let us know below…
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Christina Aguilera – Sing For Me
Sadly for Christina Aguilera, last year’s ‘Lotus’ didn’t quite bloom on the Billboard charts. Indeed, without being watered with promo, the set would go on to wither at a rapid rate.Yet, like most projects plagued by politics, it’s rarely the quality of the album that is ever the issue. Case, point, ‘Lotus’.
From its Enya-like intro, to club cuts such as ‘Your Body’ and ‘Let There Be Love’, the LP was jam-packed with potential hits.
One of the most potent, for yours truly, was blazing ballad ‘Sing For Me’.
A clear cousin of inspirational cuts such as ‘Beautiful’ and ‘I’m OK’, the anthemic track plays like an audio-diary – relaying a narrative of insecurity and eventual triumph by way of inner-strength.
Vocally, ‘Sing’ sees Aguilera showcase the length and breadth of her legendary range – delivering an emphatic middle finger to those critical of vocal theatrics. And rightfully so. Surely, those blessed to blow, should blow? Thankfully, it’s stance Xtina
shares, hence this shining gem. {SAM}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”qqm22iik0tg”]
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Ashlee Simpson – Boys
Jessica‘s more eclectic sister had many an audible trick in the musical bag that was her third LP ‘Bittersweet World’ – one of them being the Summer-soaked gem ‘Boys’.
Like the bulk of the album, the track – helmed by the Chad Hugo of the Neptunes alongside ‘Say Goodbye To Love’ maestro Kenna – saw Ashlee venturing into edgier sonic territories while maintaining her Pop roots. A genuine transition, the jam’s strongest point is that it never comes off as forced or try hard (*cough* ‘#BANGERZ’ *cough*).
Unfortunately, the project never garnered the recognition it deserved and plans to release ‘Boys’ as a single were dropped. With Simpson hard at work on the album’s follow up, which she described as “a little soulful, a little electronic”, let’s pray she has the material required to reconnect with the Pop audience but also breakthrough the Urban market a la Katy Perry and Lady GaGa.
Enough with the rambling, here’s ‘Boys’ {JOE}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”ObXc526xPuI”]
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Selena – No Me Queda Mas
Released in 1994, ‘No Me Queda Mas’ served as the third single to be pulled from Selena’s fifth studio album, ‘Amor Prohibido’, executive produced by the singer’s older brother A.B. Quintanilla III, one year before her untimely passing.
With an English translation that reads ‘There’s Nothing Left For Me’, the mid tempo ballad first impacted the world on November 20th 1994, peaking at #1 on Billboard US Hot Latin Tracks tally, but doing far more for its supporting album than many are aware of.
For, despite being a Spanish language LP, the success of its singles and the iconic music videos shot in their aid saw ‘Prohibido’ certified 2x Platinum in the US despite peaking at #181 on the Billboard 200 in the year it was initially released.
Following the Southern belle’s murder, renewed interest in the LP saw its sales skyrocket and secure a new peak position on the ‘200’. A peak position, that sang to to the tune of #29. Meanwhile, its sales surpassed the 1 million mark in Mexico. A winner. {DAVID}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”FCi-Xp2TVoQ”]
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Drew Sidora – I’m On One (Right Now)
She may be currently winning rave reviews for her portrayal of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins aboard VH1’s highly rated TLC biopic ‘CrazySexyCool’ , but before she chased waterfalls as part of the trio, Drew Sidora was in hot pursuit of her own music career.
Most thought she was simply a fictional character on CW (and later BET’s) ‘The Game’, but the Chicago-born beauty’s track record has seen her signed to J Records and later Slip-N-Slide Records to share her romantic brand of “Crunk-n-B”. While her ill-fated album on SNS never quite saw the light of day, a few of its gems have been shining online due to brief feature on the hit sitcom. One such cut was ‘I’m On One (Right Now)’. Check it out: {RASHAD}
Still reaping the rewards gained from his work on Adele’s ’21’, Ryan Tedder has confirmed that Beyonce‘s forthcoming studio album will feature a number set to surpass the heights soared by their 2008 single ‘Halo.’
J.Holiday turns up the heat as best he can this time around, scorching fans with the video shot to support his brand new single ‘Guilty Conscience.’
Boasting the same name as its supporting album, the sensual clip comes six years after his smash hit single ‘Bed’ peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and weeks before the LP’s December release.
It’s routine for Rihanna performances to sound like an exorcism, as such it’s fitting that the star undergoes just that in the video for new single ‘What Now’.
Unwrapped literally seconds ago, the clip awaits below…
Hours after learning of claims made by the ‘Mercedes Boy’ manufacturer here, Urban singing group TLC have hit back at their former manager Pebbles today, branding the one time hit maker a liar.
Their response to allegations of an inappropriate relationship between group member Chilli and Pebbles’ then husband?
With Christmas around the corner, Toni Braxton and Babyface get into the Holiday spirit with a soul-filled cover of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’.
The dynamo duo, who are set to release collabo album ‘Love, Marriage, & Divorce’ on February 4th, soar on the festive classic, potently reminding why we can’t wait for their project in the New Year.
The above is the motto behind M.I.A‘s brand new single of the same name, welcoming the release of its very own music video this morning.
Perhaps a response to Drake‘s ‘YOLO’, the jam can be found on the ‘Sunshowers’ singers latest studio album ‘Matangi’ and now joins its Daniel Sannwald directed clip in awaiting your first play…below!
Indeed, that is the clear motive the ladies of Little Mix have with sophomore effort ‘Salute’.
The chart-topping group, who enjoyed trail-blazing success with their debut album ‘DNA’, are looking to up the ante with its hotly anticipated follow-up. Ushered in by dance-floor jam ‘Move’, the LP arrived in stores this week, rocketing straight into the upper echelon the iTunes tally.
That Grape Juice recently caught with members Perrie and Jade, who dished on embracing a more R&B sound, a potential collaboration with Nicki Minaj, their US plans, Destiny’s Child, and much more.
Hit ‘PLAY’ above to watch our exclusive interview with Little Mix!
Upon the unveiling of Lady GaGa‘s predicted opening numbers for new LP ‘ARTPOP‘, there’s no doubt many a ‘spectator’ rejoiced at the sight of what they believed was the performer’s downfall.
Alas, in confusing her with the carefully crafted constructs called her contemporaries, these detractors saw the general public’s apparent ‘withdrawal’ from the entertainer as the KO her career had been calling for since the release of ‘Born This Way.’
Unfortunately, as history has relayed many a time, talent never stays down for too long and will always be held in higher regard than the enjoyable yet highly disposable microwave Pop cuts spawned by ladies yet to prove how they’d fare without the benefit of the creatives tasked with upholding their careers.
Ladies, yet to make the impact GaGa has in their own respective genres or in the world at large.
Now, hit the play button below to witness the talent that will see her career/legacy outlive those of the aforementioned puppets and be sure to weigh in below!
Flo Rida calls on Nina Simone‘s ‘Feeling Good‘ to complete his new single ‘How I Feel’ this year, sampling the Newley & Bricusse penned classic and unveiling its clip earlier tonight!
Lifted from his forthcoming studio album ‘The Perfect 10′ , the single precedes the release of jams that feature Pitbull, Carly Rae Jepsen, Elijah Blake and Future!
