After the generally positive response received from her single ‘25/8‘, Hip Hop Soul Queen Mary J. Blige has confirmed the name of its follow up, a Rico Love produced cut named ‘Mr. Wrong‘.

Lifted from her upcoming ‘My Life II‘ album, due out November 21st, Love gave further details  just hours ago and explained why although he wrote the song for Mary, it is in many ways a song about himself.

More information below…

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Black men in the music industry have never been hard to find.

In today’s musical climate, there are very few genres of music that haven’t been touched by the black male, from Jay Z and Lil Wayne in the world of Hip Hop, to British boy band JLS in the realms of Pop.

For years, the issue of how black men are portrayed in the music industry has remained a well discussed one.

With even the likes of Rapper Game airing his thoughts on why many of his own contemporaries are presented in a light  contrary to their  actual realities , this is one hot topic very  few have little to say about.

Now we here at That Grape Juice HQ want you to weigh in…

Do Record Labels Endorse Negative Stereotypes Of Black Men To Help Boost Sales?

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Peep ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ starlet Jessie J dressed in  a far more revealing way than usual for Q magazine.

Featuring one of the publication’s 25 covers in celebration of its 25th anniversary, the songstress bares all in more than way one during her interview in the long awaited edition.

Discussing the disappointment she experienced when her broken leg forced her out of Katy Perry’s California Dreams‘  Tour, as  well as why why she hopes her upcoming single ‘Who You Are‘ will enjoy similar  success to her previous releases ‘Price Tag‘ and ‘Nobody’s Perfect‘.

Your thoughts?

Last week’s X Factor USA premiere saw Nicole Scherzinger panned by some sects of the media for being “too boring”. Fast forward 7 days, and any such notion is dashed as quickly as a Cheryl Cole.

For when fellow judge Simon Cowell likened a wack contestant to the 31 year old, sassy Scherzinger hit back with a must-see response.

Peep the action after the jump…

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The Saturdays slow it down for ‘My Heart Takes Over’, the third release from their fourth studio album ‘On Your Radar’.

Following on from chart smashes ‘Notorious’ and ‘All Fired Up’, the track is marked departure from its dancier predecessors. Take a listen after the jump…

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The X-Factor USA is here!

Fox’s much hyped British import has finally kicked off on American soil and looks set to be the biggest show of its kind.

Featuring judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, LA Reid and Nicole Scherzinger, the show favours American Idol with its nationwide auditions. However, there is a defining twist in that  groups and solo acts over 25’s are eligible to enter.

Unsurprisingly, with this being the audition phase, the talented and talent-challenged came out in equal measure for a crack at progressing to the next stage.

Check out the best and worst (as they become available) from this, the third show, below…

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“Michael Jackson left the spirit of dance in Chris Grant” – Frank Gatson

For anyone else, such a billing would generate some discomfort. Yet for 23 year old Chris Grant, it’s not only a title he is humbled by, it’s one he’s keen to both embrace and honour.

A renown dancer and choreographer, the New York native has amassed a wealth of experience in his few years on the scene. Indeed, his choreography credits boast many a Beyonce stage-show, Jennifer Lopez‘s ‘On The Floor’ video, and most notably a spot on Michael Jackson’s ill-fated ‘This Is It’ concert.

With Grant eager to emerge from the shadows as an artist himself, That Grape Juice presents episode 2 of ‘Introducing…Chris Grant’.

And with it, this week, being announced that Grant will portray the King of Pop in a show-stopping solo dance tribute at next week’s ‘Michael Forever’ extravaganza, it’s apt that this edition sees him discuss what it was like working with MJ in his final days – and more.

Hit ‘PLAY’ to get familiar with this face and story you’ll be seeing a lot more of! Click here to watch episode 1.

Your thoughts?

For more on Chris Grant, check out his official website:

www.chrisgrantmusic.com

Booking Enquiries: Chris@chokolate.tv

Chokolate Management & Chokolate Records – www.chokolate.tv

‘This Is It’ footage credit: Sony Pictures

As announced here, R&B pint-sized powerhouse Tiffany Evans is prepping fans for the release of ‘Won’t Find Me’ – the forthcoming single from her mixtape.  Set for an October 1st premiere, Evans is building buzz by bringing fans a behind-the-scenes look at the photoshoot for the single.

The now-19-year-old, recently released from Matthew Knowles management, is certainly asserting her newfound independence in so many ways.  And, if this shoot is anything to go by, fans ‘won’t find’ the same Tiffany they’re used to.

See the behind-the-scenes action after the jump:

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Peep Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige gracing the cover of Paper magazine’s October issue.  Readying her highly anticipated ‘My Life II:  The Journey Continues’ for its November 21st release, the songstress continues her promo campaign leading up to the visual for ’25/8′ – the album’s lead single.

Though Blige was most recently spotted bringing down the house at the Paper Magazine Awards, now fans can see more of the ‘No More Drama’ songstress in the host’s magazine.

Via Paper:

Read the accompanying interview here.

Your thoughts?

Jason Derulo may have been bested by rising rap star J. Cole on next week’s Billboard tally, but the ‘It Girl’ entertainer is still looking to make a solid splash on the charts.  On the promo trail for his latest venture ‘Future History’, the dance machine has been seen making rounds on various print and broadcast outlets.  However, his sophomore set isn’t the only thing having the hitmaker in headlines.

Igniting the rumor mill, Derulo and fellow pop star Jordin Sparks were seen getting quite cozy during a dinner date earlier this week.  Both parties have remained mum on the topic – until now.  For, while recently making a promo pit stop over at CBS, Derulo was quizzed on his relationship with the songstress.

His remarks after the jump:

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The 2008 debut of Missy Elliott’s Pennsylvanian protégé Jazmine Sullivan was indeed an introduction to some. But given her songwriting resume (see: Christina Milian, Monica, Jennifer Hudson) and already established Youtube following long before ‘Fearless’ hit shelves, by the time ‘Need U Bad’ blared from Urban radios, her unmistakable contralto was already a celebrity.

Showcasing a maturity in tone and technique far beyond her years, many would be forgiven for not knowing the ‘Bust Your Windows’ beauty was only 21 the year her debut LP arrived on record shelves. Heralded by many as the second-coming of Lauryn Hill, Sullivan’s soulful servings instantly gained her mainstream notoriety – some even christening her as R&B’s long-awaited messiah. Four hit R&B singles would follow ‘Fearless’ as it made an impressive top 10 debut. And, with Jazmine garnering an impressive 5 Grammy nods for the album, it appeared she was on her way to the same heights once held by Hill. Unfortunately, that trek to compeer Hill quickly turned uphill.

For, while her singles (that never made much noise on Pop charts anyway) were losing ground on home fronts, the singer was unceremoniously snubbed at the 2009 Grammy’s. This, of course, only furthering fears that the ‘Fearless’ follow-up would suffer a sophomore slump.

Enter ‘Love Me Back’ – ‘Fearless’ unsuccessful successor headed by R&B hit ‘Holding You Down (Goin’ In Circles)’. And, though marginally besting the first week sales of her first album, ‘Love Me Back’ wasn’t getting much love from record buyers. Consequently, many believe, leading the soulful songstress to ‘retire’ from the industry indefinitely.

That Grape Juice wants to know – what is the problem? Clearly one of this generation’s leading talents, the promo from her introductory hype alone helped float her first album sales. Albeit very deserved, could the lack of such her second-go-round have played a role in its successor’s sink? Lack of singles? Bad videos? Some may even argue weight gain, but the successes of the Adeles of the world could counter that argument.

Or, regardless of Jazmine’s mega-talent, was the material from ‘Love Me Back’ too dated and unappealing to garner mainstream success?

You tell us. Product vs. Promotion? What’s Jazmine Sullivan’s shortcoming?

Your thoughts?

In support of her forthcoming studio release,  ‘The High Road’ songstress Jojo is wowing fans and critics alike on the road and documenting every step of her tour chronicles via her Youtube vlog.  The new album ‘Jumping Trains’ (led by ‘Disaster’), which she describes as ‘pop with anger management problems’, is expected on record shelves in early 2012.

Joined on a nationwide trek with fellow pop performers Joe Jonas and Jay Sean, the singer’s most recent recorded pit stop was in Denver, Colorado.

And, with parts 1 through 6 already boasting quite the buzz, fans are now invited to join Jojo once again as her travels take her through the Midwest on parts 7 and 8 after the jump:

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