Last week marked the 15th anniversary of ‘Hardcore’, the debut album by Brooklyn Rapper Lil Kim.

Executive produced and Sean ‘Diddy Combs‘ and the late Biggie Smalls, who also served as the project’s chief ghostwriter, the album is heralded by many as one of Hip Hop’s more groundbreaking debut releases and was the launching pad for a career that now spans almost two decades.

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For such a young talent, Wynter Gordon has already made quite the mark.

Indeed, the New York based singer-songwriter has been a staple ‘behind the scenes’ of the industry, penning hits for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, and David Guetta. 

And while this year saw her break out as an act in her own right, it’s 2012 which’ll see Gordon launch a full-on chart assault.

Until then, let her whet your appetite with a stunning acoustic rendition of her summer smash ‘Dirty Talk’, right here on the latest episode of The Splash!

Click here to follow Wynter on Twitter

Click here to visit Wynter’s official site

Continuing our quest to look behind the glitz and glamor of the Urban entertainment industry, the debut episode of ‘Patrick Meets…’ sees our resident host chat it up with celebrity hair stylist Kiyah Wright.

With clientele such as Ciara, Brandy, and The Braxtons on her books, Wright has proven herself to have the midas touch.

Watch the Emmy winner relay her hair do’s and dont’s and touch on her experiences working with some of the industry’s biggest names.

Be sure to let us know what you think below!

Click here follow Kiyah Wright on Twitter 

Whoa lover!

Get into this stunning shot of ‘Bionic’ woman Christina Aguilera on the set of ‘The Voice’ season 2 this week.

Noticeably slimmer than usual  and posing if the sales of her upcoming album depended on it, the snap will be sure to strike a positive chord with fans who currently await the release of that very project, due for release in the earlier part of 2012.

Your thoughts?

 

 

The Braxton sisters are back with season 2 of their hit WeTv series ‘Braxton Family Values’.

Episode 2 of this series sees Tamar begin work on her solo project, Traci reveal her new career plans, and a whole lot more!

Peep the preview above…

 

Despite finishing fourth on the X Factor last year, Pop star Cher Lloyd has gone on to smash the charts (ironically outselling even the winner).

That success trend looks set to continue as the 18 year continues her crusade to break out beyond the talent-show she so humbly thanks for “starting it all”.

In this frank interview, the ‘With Ur Love’ singer talks to That Grape Juice about her rise to success, new album ‘Sticks + Stones’, her life before the X Factor, wanting to crush stereotypes, and more!

 

The year 2006 saw Pop Queen Janet Jackson in quite the precarious position professionally.

Still reeling from the backlash of her infamous wardrobe malfunction two years prior, the superstar attempted to solider through the drama with the release of her 9th studio album ‘20 Y.O’.

And though unfairly deemed a disappointment, the Platinum project did yield many a gem – none more so than ‘So Excited’.

Seemingly a smash in waiting, politics sunk the pulsating track at radio. A fact perhaps most sad due to its effect on the song’s accompanying video (which went largely unnoticed).

Criminally underrated, the Joseph Khan directed clip serves as one the best of Janet’s latter career. Boasting stunning cinematography, a high-octane routine, and Ms. Jackson’s trademark abs, ‘Excited’ takes a worthy seat beside its visual siblings ‘All Nite (Don’t Stop)’ and ‘Son of a Gun’.

More of this, please, Janet. That is, of course, whenever you decide to return!

*Retro Rewind sees That Grape Juice re-visit hot music videos and Pop cultural moments from yesteryear*

In addition to serving up our original content, we’re  happy to announce that each week you can now watch BET‘s sitcom series ‘Reed Between The Lines’ right here on That Grape Juice TV!

Starring Tracy Ellis Ross (‘Girlfriends’) and Malcom Jamal Warner (‘The Cosby Show’), the show follows a modern-day blended family as they navigate life’s ups and downs with wit and humour. It centres on Dr. Carla Reed, a busy psychologist, wife and mother struggling to balance her job and her happy but chaotic home life.

After lengthy spell off TV, it’s oh so refreshing to have an Urban sitcom back on the small screen!

Hit ‘PLAY’ and get into episode 7!

Paypal champion Lil’ Kim may have slayed the competition with her best-selling Paypal release ‘Black Friday’, but now it appears the Queen Bee has her sights set on another best sellers tally.  For, despite being sued in 2008 by publishing company Simon & Schuster (for a $40, 000 advance on a memoir never manifested), the rap pioneer is pressing forward with ‘The Price of Loyalty’ – a biographical tale detailing her 2005 imprisonment.

MTV News reports:

Both projects will explore Kim’s life, pre-and-post prison, detailing the effect that her sentence of one year and a day had on her career and personal life. Lil’ Kim was incarcerated in a Philadelphia federal prison for lying to a grand jury about details surrounding a shooting outside of Hot 97’s New York City headquarters in 2001.

No release dates have been announced for the book or the accompanying, yet-titled documentary.

Your thoughts?

 

Earlier this year, Pop princess Nicki Minaj joined Pop Queen Britney Spears as a supporting act for her sell out ‘Femme Fatale‘ concert tour.

Following the release of Minaj’s remix to the entertainer’s single ‘Till The World Ends‘, the pair often performed the number live during Ms. Spears’ set on the show.

Now peep the official clip for Nicki’s verse in the song below…

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Still making her promo rounds on this side of the pond, ‘Lay It On Me’ songstress Kelly Rowland‘s layout for the U.K.’s ‘Stylist’ magazine is sure to turn many-a-head.  Donning fierce fashions and a matching attitude, the Rankin’s north London studio saw Miss Kelly take heat to new heights in the sizzling set.

See more pics from the set and watch the behind the scenes video after the jump (courtesy of Stylist):

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Christmas is but six weeks away, and in true festive form, diva Mariah Carey ushers in the Holiday season with a stirring version of ‘When Christmas Comes’.

Previously featured on last year’s Gold certified ‘Merry Christmas II You’, the retooled version of the track now features R&B crooner John Legend. Prior to now, the pair teamed up in 2005 for a spine-tingling cover of ‘With You I’m Born Again’. Do they have the same magic this go round?

You be the judge below…

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