Frank Ocean treats fans to a brand new song today- ‘Eyes Like Sky’– reportedly lifted from the ‘Channel Orange’ recording sessions.

Guitar led and serving all kinds of Top 40 flavour, the number sees Ocean abandon the mellowness found in ‘Pink Matter’ and ‘Bad Religion’, and showcase his gift for storytelling over production which would otherwise have been soulless without the poignancy of his lyrics.

His words below…

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It was a collaboration welcomed by all three of their respective fan bases. However, if hints given by Eve, Lil Kim and Missy Elliott as to what their forthcoming cut will sound like are anything to go by, the ladies may have to head back to the drawing broad and start from scratch.

This, thanks to Rap’s long running Prom Queen Nicki Minaj.

Details below…

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Not in many years has there been as much hype for a project as there is for Justin Timberlake‘s comeback effort ‘The 20/20 Experience’.

Due in stores on March 19th, the set has already been supported by major promotional slots on the Grammy Awards and the UK’s BRITs. Yet that isn’t stopping the former NSync’er from pressing on with an aggressive push for maximum exposure, with his latest stop being prime-time German show ‘Wetten, Dass?’. 

Watch below as the singer-actor rocks out to ‘Mirrors’….

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Bruno Mars  sizzled and soared with ‘Locked Out Of Heaven’ last night, rocking Germany’s ‘Wetten,Dass…?’ with a pitch perfect helping of the #1 single.

Joined by his well choreographed Hooligans and the pizzazz that makes him Pop’s most engaging divo, his appearance on the show also saw make one fan’s dream come true when he dedicated his moving ‘Just The Way You Are’ to her, after his first performance.

Enjoy below…

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The world may love and respect for her work as a solo act, but very few are aware of how influential Missy Elliot the producer has been to Pop culture- and more directly..female rap.

Responsible for Lil Kim‘s contribution to the Pop classic ‘Lady Marmalade‘, her decision to place Trina on her R&B smash hit ‘One Minute Man‘ undoubtedly catapulted the Rapper to heights she would have otherwise missed out on had she not been on the cut.

Now, in extending her lead as Hip Hop’s most unifying force, she has called on Lil Kim and Eve to forge a collaboration set to take the Urban charts by storm.

Details below…

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Billed as the backbone behind her career, Mathew Knowles handing of Pop megastar Beyonce is undoubtedly the biggest reason behind her meteoric rise to the top.

Of course, while it isn’t as obvious today as it was then, Knowles’ branding of the star as a Premium Pop’n’B singer saw her outperform and outshine girls who she once deemed competition. Girls, by the names of Ashanti and Jennifer Lopez.

Now, two years being cut loose from her camp, the music mastermind has spoken out on his relationship with her.

A relationship, that turned sour after he was reportedly accused of assigning funds from her cause to himself without her permission.

Watch- via HLN– below…

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This week’s That Grape Juice ‘Cover Star‘ pays homage to Black History Month with an epic showing of ‘Lift Every Voice’ from Virginian trio Resound (Joseph, Mariah, and Jessica). Watch as the three take on the Negro national anthem below (start at 1:10):

Absolutely breathtaking!  It is no wonder that famed gospel artist Byron Cage sought to shine a spotlight on this talented trio.  Never have we ever heard such effortless harmonic transitions, passion, and masterfully executed melisma by three awesome vocalists who are just as powerful jointly as they are solo.

Here is hoping the coming months will let us hear more from ReSound as they are truly deserving of the attention being brought their way!

For more on ReSound, see their Youtube page here.

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

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Check out these snaps of ‘Catch Me‘ Rapper Nicki Minaj, stepping out in white for an event held in honor of her new MAC venture, ‘Viva Glam Nicki 2‘.

Held at the MAC store in Beverly Hills, the party saw the ‘American Idol‘ judge meet with fans and investors to discuss the product, which sees proceeds go towards the company’s continued fight against the AIDS virus.

Marking her latest endeavour with the cosmetics company, Minaj’s outing yesterday comes before the arrival of her third studio album and days before she continues judging duty on ‘Idol’, in which she stars in with ‘Prisoner Of Love‘ icon Mariah Carey.

More below…

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Hollywood’s buzz for the 2013 Academy Awards is in high gear, but as ever, That Grape Juice loves to stroll down memory lane to salute the best of performances past.  This year we tip our hats to the 1991 performance of ‘Sooner Or Later’ by Queen of Pop Madonna.

The pop vixen, accompanied by date/King of Pop Michael Jackson, took on the task of performing the number from her critically panned film ‘Dick Tracy’.  A film that inversely spawned her biggest and (arguably) most iconic music hit to date – ‘Vogue’.  Regardless, the performance saw Madge pay an updated, post-‘Material Girl’ (video) homage to idol Marilyn Monroe while Jackson, amongst other high profile onlookers, spectated what few would believe was an awesome vocal showcase from the songstress.

Despite being known mostly for racy on air antics and questionable vocal skills prior, the showing saw the diva belting and sustaining notes with a passion and control rarely demonstrated in her previous hits.  Minus her normal troop of dancers, Madge stood center stage with a microphone and mink sole and stole the show (despite her nerves getting the best of her in parts).

Press ‘PLAY’ above and see one of the many steps Miss Madonna took to cement her name beside Michael’s as pop’s reigning royalty.

P.S. – We’d love more of these vocal show-stoppers from Madge before retirement!

 Your thoughts?

Looking like a bag of money and good living, Janet Jackson was snapped at Milan Fashion Week last night. Together with billionaire boyfriend Wissam Al Mana (pictured below), the Queen of Pop soaked up the scene at the Sergio Rossi runway presentation.

And while it’s always great to see the ‘Feedback’ singer out and about, we sure hope she hits the runway to a recording booth soon. It’s been almost 5 years since her last album ‘Discipline’ dropped and, while she’ll always be Pop royalty, she turns 47 in May. Put simply, time waits for no one – even when you’re “Janet Jackson”.

For now, though, peep more pics below…

Your thoughts?

Since the onset of the digital era, countless teams have employed a smoke and mirrors approach when relaying the success (or lack-thereof) of their artists. Indeed, daily the masses are sold narratives of success that are more rooted in dreams than reality.

In a bid to plough through the PR spin, industry bible Billboard have compiled a list of Music’s Top 40 Money Makers 2013.

Find out who is (really) shining bright like a diamond after the jump…

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