With a bevy of Billboard chart toppers jointly and separately to their credit, Toni Braxton & Babyface took to Tuesday’s episode of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” to lend a reminder that their hitmaking power has no end in sight.
Showing off the first televised performance of their newest hit ‘Hurt You’, the duo wowed the audience with the R&B chart-topper just a month before they prep the release of their Motown-duets album ‘Love, Marriage, & Divorce’ (Nov. 25).
Did you miss it? Tuck in below to see how they fared:
Grammy winning gospel diva Yolanda Adams is back to blazing charts with ‘Best For Last’ – the Donald Lawrence helmed number acting as the title track to his latest #1 album.
Most recently sharing the tune coast-to-coast with enthusiastic crowds on Verizon’s ‘How Sweet The Sound’ tour, the songstress took time backstage during an Atlanta stop to answer fan questions and weigh in on pressing pop culture topics.
Imparting her opinion on serial twerker Miley Cyrus, a potential Brandy duet, and her own new offerings with legendary producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, tuck in below to hear the ‘Victory’ songstress share some words of wisdom and more.
The 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards struck Gold this time around, convincing Rap icon Lil Kim to grace the show with a cypher set to air on October 15th in the US (UK premiere October 18th at 8pm).
Now, before she showcases her free styling skills alongside the likes of Kendrick Lamar, the performer joined her protege Tiffany Foxx to explain what fans can expect from the show and why the starlet has her full support.
Peep this footage of ‘Winning Women’ singer Rihanna welcoming a new member to her family of tattoos this week!
Filming the experience during her recent journey to New Zealand, the ‘Styled To Rock’ star can be seen getting inked by tattoo artist Inia Taylor, opting to get it done in a fashion traditional to the country, as seen below!
As ‘Applause’ continues to hold steady in many a Top Twenty worldwide, Lady GaGa will no doubt renew interest in the jam tonight…when she releases the official track list for its supporting album ‘ARTPOP‘!
The Grammy winner and American Idol graduate has spent much of 2013 promoting her critically-acclaimed album ‘Side Effects Of You’ – which yielded singles ‘Lose To Win’ and ‘Without Me (ft. Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliott)’. Having embarked on a series of live dates in support of the LP, the 29-year-old has confirmed the project’s title track is its third single.
Set to impact Urban radio on October 28th, the track’s accompanying visual will begin production imminently according to the star’s manager. Once unwrapped, the clip will mark the first time a “third” video has been commissioned during any of Fantasia’s album campaigns. A feat which, in this trying time for R&B, should definitely be commended.
Interestingly, the songbird is releasing a stripped back version of the Emeli Sande penned / Naughty Boy produced cut to radio. Take a listen after the jump…
After revealing that he had lost his virginity to a 14 year old girl aged eight, Chris Brown caught wind of remarks made on the matter by host Wendy Williams and entertainment writer Perez Hilton on the former’s hit talk show!
Peep Brown’s scathing estimation of the pair and the opinions below!
This year, Hip Hop’s fastest rising star Elijah Blake will join Diplo and NO I.D. in releasing his sophomore EP ‘Bijoux 23’, the follow up to the record breaking‘Bijoux 22’.
Set to hit digital outlets after the 23 year old watched the online streaming figure for his song ‘Vendetta’ surpass 10 million last week, this week has brought with it more good news from the Def Jam priority act…and the Pop riot that is Miley Cyrus!
Mark your calendars, Janelle Monae fans. Tomorrow brings with it the premiere of the singer’s ‘Primetime’ video with fellow R&B mover Miguel. And if this new cinematic teaser is anything to go by, ‘The Electric Lady’ is set to serve up quite the visual treat.
The Best You Never Heard is back! After a lengthy rest on the bench, 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…
********************
Toni Braxton – ‘Hands Tied’
Toni Braxton may once again be riding high on the R&B charts with Babyface, yet the climate was altogether different for the veteran diva back in 2010.
For, despite serving up a solid LP in the form of ‘Pulse’, the songstress saw industry politics once again marr another of her post-90’s projects. A shame, as like ‘Libra’ before it, ‘Pulse’ re-affirmed that musically Ms. Braxton was very much alive – and if backed properly could still be quite the Urban chart force.
Still, one of the positive facets to emerge from the episode was the Oak-produced ‘Hands Tied’.
A titillating concoction of classy and sensual, the baby-making number placed Braxton’s creamy contralto centre-stage. The definition of “feel music”, the cut’s lyrics are sure to resonate with anyone who’s loved and loved hard.
Despite receiving the video treatment, the song – which was rolled out as the album’s third single – could only manage a #29 peak on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Unfortunate, yet a fact that does not dilute the brilliance that is this song! {SAM}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”FrzGNKGhipM”]
********************
Destiny’s Child – I Know
2003 proved to be the beginning of America’s decade long love affair with ‘Crazy In Love’ singer Beyonce. But, as the singer’s musical flight was just taking off, she still aimed to build her acting resume – a resume which already included the likes of ‘Carmen: A Hip Hopera’ and ‘Austin Powers 3’.
Then, taking her chops to gospel-inspired numbers, Bey took to the Cuba Gooding Jr.-led ‘Fighting Temptations’ to lend fan favorites ‘Time To Come Home’ and a scorching remake of classic hit ‘Fever’. Despite an album full of gems, it appeared to be the inspirational Destiny’s Child cut ‘I Know’ that is oft-overlooked. In line with the inspirational work of both Kelly’s (‘Stole’) and Michelle’s (‘Heart To Yours’), the song showcased each beauty’s talent while delivering a heartwarming message.
Get to know ‘I Know’ below:
Press play and fall in love {RASHAD}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”e6Rghyb4yfM”]
********************
SWV – Use Your Heart
Well before the new millennium saw him craft hits for Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Jay Z, Pharrell Williams wooed the ears of many an R&B loyalist…via the vocalists that are SWV.
Responsible for the group’s signature jam ‘Right Here’, my ‘Best You’ve Never Heard’ pick invites you to the year 1996 to meet ‘Use Your Heart’, the second single to be lifted from the trio’s ‘New Beginning’.
Peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, ‘Heart’ saw the ladies storm R&B shores with a peak position of #6 and push US sales of its supporting album to 1 million units, earning the LP a Platinum certification despite the song itself itself failing to reach the Gold milestone achieved by its preceding single ‘You’re The One’.
Boasting a finesse and crossover appeal many of today’s R&B hopefuls could pull from, I hope you love ‘Use Your Heart’ as much as I do, and make it the ‘Best You Never Heard’ too! {DAVID}
LISTEN: [audiotube id=”CDfgawEll1Y”]
********************
Michael Jackson – Someone Put Your Hand Out
From the Jackson 5 days to ‘This Is It’, the King Of Pop had been able to show the universe the full extent of his genius. Yes, Michael Jackson blessed us with many a “classic” moment, but today let’s focus on a track only die-hard fans are aware of.
Courtesy of the 1991 ‘Dangerous’ sessions and included on a Pepsi promotional boxset , ‘Someone Put Your Hand Out’ is yet another gem created by the fantastic team of Jackson and Teddy Riley. A melancholic, surrendering love song, it’s safe to say it is ranked quite high on the extensive list of “could-have-been-hits” from the Pop visionary. Armed with a crystal clear falsetto, a Latin flavored groove, lush vocal arrangements and simple – in the best way possible – melodies, Mike demonstrates here that – with the right dosage – less is definitely more. Indeed, what makes this song such a winner is its subtlety.
Jackson’s ability to seamlessly switch his sound from high-energy, industrial and aggressive to ethereal and vulnerable remains one of his biggest qualities and this very song sums up amazingly what the softer side of his music is all about: love, passion, emotion and honesty
