Jay-Z continues to make mega-moves with his Roc Nation empire.

Fresh from hitting headlines that the full-service entertainment force is venturing into the Sports world, it has today been announced that the company has teamed up with Universal Music to house the official Roc Nation record label.

Beyond literally being a big deal, some may be wondering why this is this such a “big deal”. Well, while the Roc manages and A&R’s the likes of Rihanna, Rita Ora, Timbaland, and Kylie Minogue, they -until now-have not operated as an actual record label. Indeed, each of the aforementioned acts sit under different (and in some cases, rival) corporate umbrellas.

With this latest development, Roc Nation truly becomes its own  360 entity. Put simply, it’s now its own Def Jam, RCA, Columbia, and presents exciting new prospects for music moving forward.

Check out the press release after the jump…

(more…)

Check out these snaps of ‘Just Fine’ singer Mary J. Blige enjoying Puerto Rico‘s sun, sea and sand yesterday.

Snapped in the tropical spot by local paparazzi, the vocalist touched down weeks after her Lifetime movie ‘Betty &  Coretta’ came under fire from the daughters of the named women, after they billed the inspirational movie historically inaccurate.

Telling the story of Martin Luther King‘s wife ‘Coretta Scott King‘ and her friendship with Malcom X‘s wife Betty Shabazz, the unfortunate response from pair’s families marked a minor bump along Mary’s road.

A road, that saw her watch  her latest LP ‘My Life II:  The Journey Continues’ scan Gold for sales of half a million units weeks after release and hold the record for having the longest running R&B number 1 with the song ‘Be Without You‘, despite facing heavy competition from Rihanna‘s smash hit ‘Diamonds‘.

More below…

(more…)

 Check out these pics of ‘Thug In My Life‘ singer Rihanna, out and about with manager Jay Brown last night.

Arriving at the LA Clippers vs LA Lakers Game with the ROC boss, the Pop Princess was in seemingly good spirits as she watched the game play out, weeks after kicking off her ‘Diamonds World Tour’ but weeks before she nabs her latest Platinum single with the cut ‘Pour It Up‘.

More from the winning pair below!

(more…)

The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles played host to the Steve Harvey-hosted 2013 Celebration of Gospel.

Doing it bigger than ever, the faith-based affair aired moments ago and unveiled its best line-up yet, featuring performances from Tamar Braxton, Anita Baker, Tyrese, and all the major gospel heavy hitters (Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Smokie Norful, Tye Tribbett, Clark Sisters, and more).

See them below:

As one of biggest selling girl groups of all-time, TLC achieved such status with a flavoursome mix of classic songs and epic videos – with one of their most noted being 1994’s ‘Creep’.

Lifted from the trio’s mega-selling sophomore set ‘CrazySexyCool’, the track and its accompanying video is widely hailed for cranking the “Girl Power” movement into overdrive. For, with its risqué lyrics and unapologetic delivery, the release presented a super sound foundation for the ‘independent women” “running the music world” today, the Beyonce’s, the Rihanna’s, and the countless other progressive female figures in-between.

Yet, despite the song’s global success, very few know that another video was not shot for it. Directed by Lionel C. Martin, the original ‘Creep’ clip was left on the cutting-room floor for reasons unknown. What is certain, though, is that fans can now watch it after Martin unearthed it from his vault.

So, without further adieu, watch T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli like you’ve (literally) never seen them before below…

(more…)

TGJ:  3) Considering that you’re about to be part of a reality show, what’s your favorite to watch?

J. Drew:  I don’t have any favorites because I don’t watch TV as I want to (laughs).  But, some that I do tune into from time to time are ‘Love & Hip Hop’ and Lifetime’s ‘The Preacher’s Daughters‘.  Those are the first two that come to mind.

TGJ:  4)  What advice do you have for other “PKs” (preacher’s kids) who are looking to venture outside of the church?

J.Drew:  The advice I would give is do what’s best for you.  Try to keep as much positivity in your life as possible and try not to let any negativity bring you down. Just continue to move forward and do what you think is best.  That’s one thing I had to preach for myself.

Also, make sure to stay prayed up when you’re making that decision and seek God in what ever you want to do.

TGJ:  5) Last, but not least, what is your favorite Clark Sister song and why?

J. Drew:  My favorite Clark sister song is ‘For the Love of the People’.  I actually did a remix to it.  It is absolutely one of my favorite songs of all time. That song is incredible! Aunt Twinkie [Clark’s] arrangements are just ridiculous.

If I had to say my second favorite, it would probably be ‘Jesus Is A Love Song’.

‘For the Love of the People’

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_yHOHtROhs]

‘Jesus Is A Love Song’
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsGNxETPBxg]

TGJ:  Now, bringing this all home, lets talk about your forthcoming project.  Describe the JDS sound for anyone who hasn’t heard it?
J. Drew:  It has a futuristic type of sound.  It’s dark, but very musical.  The drums hit really hard and I have a lot of 808s going.  Of course, coming from where I’m from, every one expects it to be musical.  After so many years of studying the music industry, I finally found the niche to being musical yet having a beat that everybody can get excited over.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnlZki3W9Kg]

TGJ:  So, your new EP is due May 2013.  What should we expect from it?

J. Drew:  You should expect some good music! Good stuff talking about everything from relationships to breakup songs and, of course, some “turn up” songs.  I also have a few inspirational songs on it too.

No title yet though because I’m still in the studio working on material for it.  So, we’re finishing up that and should have a title pretty soon.

******

Interview by:  Quinno Rashad (That Grape Juice US)

(@blueeyedsoul517)

******

Click here to visit JDS’s Official Website//Click here to follow JDS on Twitter

Your thoughts?

Much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ segments, readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.  So in a quest to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday we introduced a new retrospective segment – ‘TGJ Replay’.

Unlike its ‘Rewind’ and ‘Vault’ predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase albums (and eras) from a library of pop music hits.  Today, we turn up the volume on Kierra Sheard‘s 2004 debut album ‘I Owe You’…

(more…)

Cop a gander of Brandy!

The R&B diva lived up to her billing last night in this fierce ensemble; posing it up ahead of a sell-out show in Wichita, Kansas.

2013 has already brought with it big things for The Vocal Bible, namely movie ‘Temptations’ as well as a main-cast upgrade on BET hit The Game (which has just been renewed for a record 7th season). And with marriage and the recording of new material set to take place this year, B-Rocka is shows no signs of slowing.

Peep more pics below…

(more…)

Recent years have seen the artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg mellow and mature. Yet the rapper, who now goes by the alias Snoop Lion, remains ever-ready to speak his mind. Case, point, a recent interview with UK broadsheet, The Guardian.

The sit-down chat, which saw the Hip-Hop star admit to smoking his favourite plant with his 18-year-old son, is perhaps most notable for his comments on gay marriage.

Find out why after the jump…

(more…)

Guess which singer/actress was snapped out and about in NYC days ago.

Hint: She guest starred in hit Nickelodeon show ‘Taina’ before her selling 1 million ringtones with her debut single months later.

Find out who she is below!

(more…)

Next up on From The Vault is a R&B gem ‘Where My Girls At?’ – courtesy of the ladies from 702.

The track, produced and written by Keybeats and TGJ favorite Missy Elliott, was the first single from the ladies sophomore set, the aptly titled ‘702’ released in 1999.

At a time when mozzarella-Pop from the likes of Britney, Christina and N’SYNC was the tastiest genre for radio programmers, ‘Girls’ managed to reach the higher tiers of the Billboard Hot 100 and Hip-Hop/R&B charts peaking at #4 and #3 respectively. Though statistically not a worlwide hit -albeit hitting #22 in the UK – we firmly believe it is a classic and no 90’s R&B themed party would be complete without this.

Like many at the time, the single’s promotional video directed by Billie Woodruff was highly inspired by the “Matrix craze” that was only in beginning stages back then.

{Sidenote: we really dig this vid, but the dancer’s outfits during the last sequence remain a big NO!}

With R&B seemingly on the up, could 2013 be the year where vocal harmony groups make a comeback in the mainstream charts? Nothing would make us happier. The likes of MKS and Stooshe are flying the flag in the UK, now we’re keen to see who will carry the torch for girl groups in the US and serve up tunes as enduring as ‘Where My Girls At?” in this day and age.

While we wait, we have to hit “replay” on this one.

Your thoughts?

Meet J. Drew Sheard II (JDS).

The first and youngest producer signed to hip hop hitmaker’s Pharrell Williams’ imprint Star Trak, the 23-year-old (under the pupilage of Williams) has crafted a number of gems for some of gospel’s heaviest hitters – namely sister Kierra Sheard.

Indeed, the Detroit native is a branch sprouted from a long-lasting gospel legacy that extends from grandmother/gospel legend Mattie Moss Clark to, of course, mother Karen Clark Sheard (one-fourth of legendary gospel group The Clark Sisters).  But, despite having such musical nest to call home, JDS seems poised to soar in a different direction – a move that has lent him mixed review.

Speaking exclusively to That Grape Juice, the singer/songwriter/producer dishes about his family legacy, critics who have bashed his decision to experiment outside of gospel, and his family’s BET reality show ‘The Sheards’ set for premiere tonight, April 7th at 10/9c.

As ever, this is a must read:

Producer J. Drew Sheard II Shouts Out That Grape Juice

Click here to read the interview!!

Click here to read the interview!!

Click here to read the interview!!

Your thoughts?