Nicole_Scherzinger_Decemb_4910698f39446

Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger is pushing ahead with her solo career. The songstress, who recently split from longtime boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, is reportedly focusing all of her energy from their breakup into her new music. Scherzinger is currently in the studio with Ne-Yo who had the following to say about their work together:

Nicole is in a state of liberation right now so the tracks are very free. She is in a place where she is happy to be alive and the tracks are definitely expressing that.

The whole album is going to be a pressure release – a great big exhale – and I’m happy about that. She has a lot of emotions after splitting up with Lewis. But it’s like taking an eagle and giving it back its wings. {Source}

It’s great to see that Nicole has found a way to express herself in her music. However, where does this leave the  rest of the Pussycat Dolls? It seems that everyone else in the group gets put on pause whenever she attempts to develop a solo venture. This really says something about the system that the group has in place where everything revolves around one singer. Furthermore, unlike Destiny’s Child, where Beyonce was undoubtedly the group’s front woman, the rest of the band generally lacks the support to have their own side projects and careers while Nicole is away. I would really like to hear what she has to say about these issues as, thus far, she has remained very quiet about them.

Thoughts?

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Mariah Carey’s ‘Angels Advocate‘ remix album has been unsurprisingly pushed back. The news comes via MariahDaily.com, who have confirmed that the LP will hit stores on March 9th, 2 weeks later than the originally scheduled February 23rd release date. Carey’s ‘Angels Cry (Remix)’ which features Ne-Yo is also going for adds at Top 40/Mainstream on February 16 (was January 19) and Top 40/Rhythmic (just added) on January 26 instead of January 4th.

Having delayed the premiere of her remixed singles on radio, it is not sshocking that this album is being pushed back. The buzz surrounding this project is decreasing everyday, especially after people realised that most of the songs are almost exactly the same as the originals with cut and paste vocals from new guest stars. Only the Jermaine Dupri remix of ‘H.A.T.E.U.’ bears any dramatic change from the previous version. Carey’s team is going to have to ‘pull a rabbit out of the hat’ for this one because this album is already shaping up for a very slow start.

Sidebar: Maybe Dupri was right when he retweeted fan statements about him being the only one capable of creating hits with Carey…

Thoughts?

mariahcarey_new

Having recently embarked on her ‘Angels Advocate Tour’, diva Mariah Carey has finally revealed the title of her high anticipated remix LP. The record has been named ‘Angels Advocate’, and will feature appearances from Mary J. Blige, Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, Big Boi, R. Kelly, Trey Songz, T-Pain, Jodeci, Gucci Mane and Jermaine Dupri. The album is set to hit stores on February 23rd, preceded by the release of the first singles, ‘Up Out My Face (Ft. Nicki Minaj)’ and ‘Angels Cry (Ft. Ne-Yo)’.

The title is simple and to the point. Furthermore, giving the LP the same name as the tour will help patrons to associate both ventures, thus having a possible positive effect on the sales of the album. Interestingly, Carey’s team is going to have to be the biggest advocate of this record. As the followup to the commercially disappointing ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’, it is safe to say that this album is set to debut in rocky territory. Hence, Carey’s camp is going to have to work twice as hard to promote this project and capture public attention.

Thoughts?

tgj end of year awards

A huge thank you to the  THOUSANDS of you who voted in the That Grape Juice: End of Year Awards 2009.

That Grape Juice: End of Year Awards 2009 – The Winners

Album of the Year
Single of the Year
Michael Jackson Best Video:
Best Collaboration
Best New Artist
Best Female Artist
Best Male Artist
The Kelly Rowland Underrated Artist Of The Year Award
Most Slept-On Album of The Year
The Please Go Sit Down Somewhere Award
Worst Single Of The Year
Worst Album Of The Year
(You) Slippin’ / Step Your Game Up Award
Best Reality TV Show
Most Shocking Event of 2008
Kanye & taylor swift
Michael Jackson
The Michael Jackson Best Video of The Year Award
Best Live Performer

Album of the Year

Winner: The Fame Monster – Lady GaGa (31%)

Runner-Up: In A Perfect World – Keri Hilson (20%)

Single of the Year

Winner: Halo – Beyonce (29%)

Runner-Up: Bad Romance – Lady GaGa (22%)

The Michael Jackson Music Video of The Year Award

Winner: I Can Transform Ya – Chris Brown (29%)

Runner-Up: Bad Romance – Lady GaGa (28%)

Best Collaboration

Winner: Knock You Down – Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo & Kanye West (40%)

Runner-Up: Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys (38%)

Best New Artist

Winner: Drake (50%)

Runner-Up: Alexandra Burke (20%)

Best Female Artist

Winner: Beyonce (68%)

Runner-Up: Lady GaGa (15%)

Best Male Artist

Winner: Chris Brown (38%)

Runner-Up: Jay-Z (20%)

Best Club Banger

Winner: Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas (70%)

Runner-Up: Hard – Rihanna (12%)

Best Live Performer (TV, Award Shows etc):

Winner: Beyonce (39%)

Runner-Up: Janet Jackson (28%)

The Kelly Rowland Underrated Artist of the Year Award

Winner: Jordin Sparks (29%)

Runner-Up: LeToya Luckett (27%)

Most Disappointing Single of the Year

Winner: Wait Your Turn – Rihanna (71%)

Runner-Up: Happy – Leona Lewis (12%)

Most Slept-On Album

Winner: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel – Mariah Carey (26%)

Runner-Up: Fantasy Ride – Ciara (21%)

“Step Your Game Up or Please Go Sit Down Somewhere” Award

Winner: Rihanna (70%)

Runner-Up: Mariah Carey (11%)

Recession Special: Most Disappointing Video of the Year

Winner: I Want To Know What Love Is – Mariah Carey (74%)

Runner-Up: Wait Your Turn – Rihanna (9%)

Most Shocking Event of 2009

Winner: The Death of Michael Jackson (74%)

Runner: Kanye West VMA Outburst (19%)

Best Movie

Winner: Precious (53%)

Runner-Up: This Is It (32%)

Most Anticipated Comeback For 2010

Winner: Janet Jackson (28%)

Runner-Up: Kelly Rowland (26%)

Your thoughts?

36595PCN_Mariah

Icon Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon were spotted in Aspen, Colorado yesterday. The duo were delighted to show off their new puppy, Dolomite, to the paparazzi. Cannon has been busy directing both of Carey’s upcoming videos for the ‘Up Our My Face (Remix)‘ and the ‘Angels Cry (Remix)’ which feature Nicki Minaj and Ne-Yo, respectively. Enjoy more of the photos below:

36595PCN_Mariah
36595PCN_Mariah
36595PCN_Mariah

What do you think of the pics?

tgj end of year awards

As 2009 draws nearer to its close, we will be acknowledging the releases, events and shocking moments that have made the last 12 months one of music’s most memorable ever with our 3rd annual That Grape Juice: End of Year Awards.

Shaking things up somewhat from last year, the nominations process has been stream-lined this go round, with the provisional list of categories and nominees listed below. Prior to nominations going live and voting commencing this Thursday (December 17th), we’re keen to hear your feedback/suggestions on both the nominees and categories, which you can drop in the comments section below!

So quickly recapping, the final nominee list as well as actual voting goes live on December 17th. Winners will be thereafter announced on Christmas Day ( December 25th)!

(* For those wondering, Beyonce isn’t eligible for many of the awards as ‘Single Ladies’, as well as her album ‘I Am Sasha Fierce’ were both released in October 2008 – and were nominated/won many awards last year!)

That Grape Juice: End of Year Awards 2009 – The Nominees

Album of the Year
Single of the Year
Michael Jackson Best Video:
Best Collaboration
Best New Artist
Best Female Artist
Best Male Artist
The Kelly Rowland Underrated Artist Of The Year Award
Most Slept-On Album of The Year
The Please Go Sit Down Somewhere Award
Worst Single Of The Year
Worst Album Of The Year
(You) Slippin’ / Step Your Game Up Award
Best Reality TV Show
Most Shocking Event of 2008
Kanye & taylor swift
Michael Jackson
The Michael Jackson Best Video of The Year Award
Best Live Performer

Album of the Year

* The Fame Monster – Lady GaGa

* The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

* The E.N.D – Black Eyed Peas

*  I Look To You – Whitney Houston

* In A Perfect World – Keri Hilson

Single of the Year

* Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z (ft. Alicia Keys)

*  Pretty Wings – Maxwell

* Bad Romance – Lady GaGa

* I Gotta Feelin’ – Black Eyed Peas

The Michael Jackson Music Video of The Year Award

* Love, Sex, Magic – Ciara

* Russian Roulette – Rihanna

* Bad Romance – Lady GaGa

*I Can Transform Ya – Chris Brown

* Bad Boys – Alexandra Burke

Best Collaboration

* Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

* Knock You Down – Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo & Kanye West

* Video Phone (Extended Mix) – Beyonce & Lady GaGa

* Love, Sex, Magic – Ciara & Justin Timberlake

* Hard – Rihanna & Young Jeezy

Best New Artist

* Alexandra Burke

* Drake

* Kid Kudi

* Kesha

Best Female Artist

* Beyonce

* Lady GaGa

* Alicia Keys

* Ciara

* Rihanna

Best Male Artist

* Jay-Z

* Maxwell

* Drake

* Chris Brown

Best Club Banger

* Work – Ciara

* Obsessed – Mariah Carey

* Hard – Rihanna

* Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas

* I Can Transform Ya – Chris Brown

Best Live Performer (TV, Award Shows etc):

* Beyonce

* Janet Jackson

* Lady GaGa

* Jay-Z

* Ciara

The Kelly Rowland Underrated Artist of the Year Award

* Amerie

* Teairra Mari

* LeToya Luckett

* The-Dream

Most Slept On Album of the Year

* Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel – Mariah Carey

* In Love & War – Amerie

* Love vs Money – The-Dream

* Fantasy Ride – Ciara

* Graffiti – Chris Brown

The Please Go Sit Down Somewhere Award

* Rihanna

* 50 Cent

* Chris Brown

* Mariah Carey

Worst Single of the Year

* Wait Your Turn – Rihanna

* Why R U – Amerie

* Louboutins – Jennifer Lopez

* Happy – Leona Lewis

Worst Album of the Year

* Before I Self Destruct – 50 Cent

* More suggestions needed……

You Slippin’ // Step Your Game Up Award

* Mariah Carey

* 50 Cent

* Britney Spears

* Jennifer Lopez

* Rihanna

Recession Special: Worst Video of  the Year

* I Want To Know What Love Is – Mariah Carey

* Wait Your Turn – Rihanna

* I Get It In – Omarion

* Fresh Out The Oven – Jennifer Lopez

Most Shocking Event of 2009

* Kanye West VMA Outburst

* The Death of Michael Jackson (RIP)

* Whitney Houston’s Grammy Snub

Best Movie

* Precious

* This Is It

* Madea Goes To Jail

Most Anticipated Comeback For 2010

* Usher

* Kelly Rowland

* Janet

*IMPORTANT: This is NOT the vote itself. This is for feedback on the nominees list. Voting starts on Thursday*

Your thoughts / suggestions?

* Banner credit: Luca!!!

rihanna_glamour

It appears Def Jam are wasting no time rushing out a re-release of Rihanna‘s latest effort ‘Rated R‘. For in a recent interview with the the BBC,  Ryan Tedder, the hitmaker behind Beyonce’s ‘Halo’, confirmed that he will be heading into the studio with the model at the start of the new year. Check out an excerpt from the feature:

Those so far on his radar include Ne-Yo, the Noisettes. Lupe Fiasco, Imogen Heap and in the new year, Rihanna.

He admits he’s been trying to synchronise schedules with the Umbrella singer for about a year and a half now and wants to get her pushing the boundaries.

He said: “She’s in a darker musical place right now… she’s got enough of those songs on Rated R to last for a while.

“I can do stuff dark musically, haunting kind of thing, but I want to have her do something vocally that she’s never done before.”

While news of a all-but-confirmed re-release comes as no surprise, two things really struck me upon reading this. The first being that in trying to get her to do something vocally she’s never done before, perhaps he could actually get RiRi to sing out of her mouth instead of her nostrils. More than anything though, it really drove home how disgusting the industry can be at times…it’s as if a re-release was always in the pipeline (yes, we all knew it was coming, but the confirmation leaves a salty taste in my mouth). Surely the general premise of re-releases are to extend the shelf-life of an already-successful album or a poorly selling album that never got a chance first go round (in the way of promotion etc)?

Whatever the eventual fate of ‘Rated R’, there’s no doubt its numbers to date are atrocious – when considering all the promo, sympathy, interviews, her success with her last album and all that jazz. If folk weren’t buying into it now, I have no idea why a re-release – which all indications point to being planned before the original even came out – is being given the green-light. As I type, the notion of another entirely new LP being rushed out next year came to mind, which IMO is equally as bad. SMH…

Your thoughts?

grammy

The 52nd annual Grammy Awards show will take place on January 31st 2010, live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. You can check out the full list of nominations which were announced a few moments ago in a special telecast on CBS.

Beyonce and Taylor Swift lead the pack with Ms. Knowles-Carter receiving 10 nominations and Swift 8. Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, and Maxwell earned 6 nods, while Lady GaGa, David Guetta and Jay-Z scored 5 noms a piece.  Whitney Houston, who was a strong favourite, received NO nominations (WTF!!!)

Update: My girl Kelly Rowland received a nomination! Go Kelly.

Album of the Year
Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Lady Gaga – The Fame
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
Taylor Swift – Fearless

Record of the Year
Beyoncé – “Halo”
Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Song of the Year
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Bon Jovi – “We Weren’t Born to Follow”
The Fray – “Never Say Never”
Daryl Hall & John Oates – “Sara Smile”
MGMT – “Kids”

Best Rap Solo Performance
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Eminem – “Beautiful”
Jay-Z – “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”
Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite”
Mos Def – “Casa Bey”

Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Black Ice
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Live From Madison Square Garden
Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
U2 – No Line on the Horizon

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele – “Hometown Glory”
Beyoncé – “Halo”
Katy Perry – “Hot N Cold”
Pink – “Sober”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
John Legend – “This Time”
Maxwell – “Love You”
Jason Mraz – “Make It Mine”
Seal – “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”
Stevie Wonder – “All About the Love Again”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen – “Sea of Heartbreak”
Ciara & Justin Timberlake – “Love Sex Magic”
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – “Lucky”
Willie Nelson & Norah Jones – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat – “Breathe”

Best Pop Vocal Album
Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Colbie Caillat – Breakthrough
Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted
The Fray – The Fray
Pink – Funhouse

Best Dance Recording
Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow”
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – “When Love Takes Over”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Madonna – “Celebration”
Britney Spears – “Womanizer”

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Melanie Fiona – “It Kills Me”
Lalah Hathaway – “That Was Then”
Ledisi – “Goin’ Thru Changes”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears”

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Anthony Hamilton – “The Point of It All”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Musiq Soulchild – “Sobeautiful”
Pleasure P – “Under”
Charlie Wilson – “There Goes My Baby”

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Jamie Foxx & T-Pain – “Blame It”
India.Arie & Musiq Soulchild – “Chocolate High”
Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige – “Ifuleave”
Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters – “Higher Ground”
Calvin Richardson & Ann Nesby – “Love Has Finally Come at Last”

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Beyoncé – “At Last”
Anthony Hamilton – “Soul Music”
Boney James & Quinn – “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”
Ann Nesby – “Sow Love”
Calvin Richardson – “Woman Gotta Have It”

Best R&B Song
Jamie Foxx & T-Pain – “Blame It”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Pleasure P – “Under”

Best R&B Album
Anthony Hamilton – The Point of It All
India.Arie – Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
Ledisi – Turn Me Loose
Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night
Charlie Wilson – Uncle Charlie

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce
Jamie Foxx – Intuition
Pleasure P – The Introduction of Marcus Cooper
Trey Songz – Ready
T-Pain – Thr33 Ringz

Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group
Beastie Boys & Nas – “Too Many Rappers”
Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent – “Crack a Bottle”
Fabolous & Jay-Z – “Money Goes, Honey Stay”
Kid Cudi, Kanye West & Common – “Make Her Say”
Kanye West & Young Jeezy – “Amazing”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Beyoncé & Kanye West – “Ego”
Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock You Down”
Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West – “Run This Town”
The Lonely Island & T-Pain – “I’m On a Boat”
T.I. & Justin Timberlake – “Dead and Gone”

Best Rap Song
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite”
T.I. & Justin Timberlake – “Dead and Gone”
Jay-Z – “D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)”
Jay-Z, Rihanna, & Kanye West – “Run This Town”

Best Rap Album
Common – Universal Mind Control
Eminem – Relapse
Flo Rida – R.O.O.T.S.
Mos Def – The Ecstatic
Q-Tip – The Renaissance

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media
Miley Cyrus – “The Climb” (From Hannah Montana: The Movie)
Paramore – “Decode” (From Twilight)
A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash – “Jai Ho” (From Slumdog Millionaire)
Beyoncé – “Once in a Lifetime” (From Cadillac Records)
Bruce Springsteen – “The Wrestler” (From The Wrestler)

Click here to read the full list

What do you think of the nominees?

janettribute

It was confirmed today that Pop superstar Janet Jackson will make her return to the stage here in the UK at the Capital FM Jingle Ball on December 6th at London’s  famed 02 venue. Jackson, 43, will perform a full-set at the hotly anticipated two-day event, which will also see performances from Lady GaGa, Ne-Yo, Shakira, Jordin Sparks, JLS, The Saturdays, and The Noisette’s. (Pretty good line-up, right? A shame they decide to announce this when tickets have completely sold out!  SMH…) {Source}

This will no doubt come as great news for Janet’s UK followers, who have seen her increasingly less over the years and not seen her perform in even longer. According to a Twitter post by Janet literally as I was about to hit ‘post’, she picked her new team of dancers this past weekend. It very much seems as though Janet is coming back full force with her upcoming projects (‘Number #1’s’ LP and her new album). Word has it there is to be a ‘Make Me’ video, as well as a possible performance on X-Factor toward the year’s end. Exciting times to be a Janet fan.

Your thoughts?


Review: Whitney Houston - 'I Look To You'
After a 7 year hiatus, Whitney Houston is back with ‘I Look To You’ – an album billed by mentor Clive Davis as ‘the greatest comeback’. Yet with Houston’s personal hardships – which included stints in drug rehab, a messy divorce and dwindling album sales – being played out so publically, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘does Whitney still have ‘it’?’

If this new record is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’.

(more…)

That Grape Juice To Interview the Sugababes
That Grape Juice are pleased to announce that we will be interviewing the UK’s top girl group, the Sugababes this week!
After 10 successful years in the industry, a period which has seen the group rack up 6 #1 singles and several multi-Platinum albums, the ladies are set to release their as-yet-untitled 7th studio album this November. Recorded in the US with hitmakers such as Stargate, Ne-Yo and RedOne, the LP will also serve as the ladies Stateside debut as part of their new US deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. With lead single ‘Get Sexy’ burning up dancefloors across the globe, there’s no doubt the girls are back…in a big way.
Do you have any questions for the ‘Babes? Drop them in the comments section below. As usual, only legitimate questions will be considered. Thanks!
Janet Jackson To Perform At MOBO Awards

Update: Turns out Ms. Jackson will be making an appearance, as opposed to a performance (Source: MOBO Publicists)

Superstar Janet Jackson is set to take to the stage at this year’s MOBO Awards to honour the life of her late brother The King of Pop Michael Jackson:

Janet Jackson is scheduled to perform at the Music Of Black Origin awards, it has been reported.

The 43-year-old singer will pay tribute to her late brother Michael Jackson at the award show in Scotland on September 30, according to New magazine.

Event organisers are reportedly planning several tributes to the King of Pop, who passed away in June.

A MOBO spokesperson said: “Janet is a music icon in her own right and a previous MOBO presenter. We loved her past involvement with the show and MOBO will continue to support her music and champion her career.

“Michael Jackson was a key catalyst and influence on the culture, lifestyle and music that MOBO supports and represents. His sound, style and dance moves have inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists. Artists such as Usher, Ne-Yo and Justin Timberlake often cite Michael Jackson as their inspiration and it is key that we commemorate his life, achievements and legacy.” {Source}

Definitely anticipating this one. With Janet having carved out a successful stage act / template of her own, it’ll be interesting to see what she does in tribute to her brother.
Your thoughts?
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