With the 10th anniversary of her untimely death approaching (August 25th), BET took to Twitter yesterday to announce plans to honor late R&B diva Aaliyah

As Miss Haughton’s influence was widespread across multiple genres of the industry (and name is still in regular mention against today’s top divas), it is only fitting the ‘More Than a Woman’ singer be remembered with a tribute.  The details of the ‘tribute special’ have yet to be revealed, but as ever, keep it locked to That Grape Juice for more on this story as it develops.

Your thoughts?

In what has been sure to garner strong reactions from both sides of the fence, the MTV Video Music Awards 2011 supposed snubbing of Rihanna is a topic that will be sure to remain hot on every one’s lips until the event itself is over.

Being excluded from all the major categories, including Best Pop Video and Best Female Video, the only time the singer’s  name appears in the nominations is when it is following the name of the act whose music she featured on.

With Katy Perry leading the way with a ground breaking set of nominations and with even budding acts such as Tyler The Creator and Kreayshawn finding their way into one category or another, could  MTV be punishing the ‘SOS‘ singer for the controversies she incurred earlier on this year?

There is the fact that she is being sued by two world renowned photographers who both claim her ‘S&M’ video was nothing more than a shameless rip off of their work and then of course there is the ‘Man Down‘ video.

The video which saw her come under fire from the Parents Television Council who claim the visual like the song itself incited violence.

We here at That Grape Juice are more than eager to hear what you think the real reason Ms. Fenty was left out of this year’s nominations is.

For despite what anyone says about her, the starlet has succeeded in becoming an artist whose impossible to ignore videos are both highly anticipated and passionately debated.

Your thoughts?

Check out ‘I Was Here‘ singer Beyonce talking very openly and honestly in an exclusive interview with Access Hollywood.

In the interview, the 29 year old performer discusses future goals and aspirations, why she wants to get into making documentaries and why getting hitched for a ‘second’ time was creepy.

Watch below…

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The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards were announced just moments ago. The 28th annual ceremony, which will air live via MTV on August 28th, features Katy Perry leading the pack with an incredible 9  nominations, Adele with 7, Kanye West with 6 nods (11 if including the ‘E.T.’ nominations), and divas Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Beyonce scoring 3 each. Check out the full lineup below:

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In what will be sure to comes as good news for their respective fans, Pop starlets Beyonce and Adele led the way for females in the genre in this weeks Billboard 200.

Find out how below…

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Miss Kelly will continue her promotional trail for next week’s ‘Here I Am’ release, with an upcoming appearance on VH1’s weekly sitcom Single Ladies. The ‘Lay It On Me’ performer will play the role of DJ Denise Phillips, a friend of April who is all too eager to help rising artist Reed succeed.

Check out the clip below…

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It appears Trey Songz isn’t the only R&B crooner starring in an upcoming feature film. ‘Look At Me Now’ singer Chris Brown is set to appear in the 2012 comedy ‘Think Like A Man’.

Check below for more details…

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Miami dance machine Jason Derulo is set to return to charts with the second single from his forthcoming album ‘Future History’ with ‘It Girl’.  While on set the crooner chatted with MTV News about the video’s treatment and what differences fans can expect from his previous offerings.

See what he had to say after the jump:

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After splitting with Motown Records in 2008, Grammy Award winner Mya decided to cater to the international market. For the past few years, the singer has released two albums exclusively in Japan. Now the ‘Lady Marmalade’ star is ready to reclaim familiar territory with the U.S. release of her latest album ‘K.I.S.S.’, which will be led by first single ‘Fabulous Life’.

Check out the song below…

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Building up to the release of her hotly anticipated third solo LP, ‘Here I Am’, Kelly Rowland will be answering fan submitted questions on Billboard.com 24 hours before the big day.

Check below for details…

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Alicia Keys and partner Swizz Beatz shimmered and shone  at a Reebok event last night.

The pair who recently had their first baby together, joined Diddy and and Clive Davis for the launch of the Reebok Classics ‘Reethym Of Lite‘ campaign.

Your thoughts?

All of the monarchs of the music industry are resting securely on cemented thrones.  We have an undisputed Queen of Soul, King of Rock n’ Roll, King of R&B, and of course, a King of Pop.  Even though such title was initially self-proclaimed, there was no denying its delegation.  Interestingly, there is a vacancy on that list…the queen’s chair sits ostensibly empty.  And though many may vie and eye the throne, no woman has boldly professed herself as such (unlike her male counterpart).  So, it begs the question:  Who is the Queen of Pop?   While there are candidates many-a-fan would crown as such, there has been no definitively, unquestioned female pop potentate. And then…

In an age where the merit of ‘pop royalty’ is defined by fly-by-night radio hits and digital downloads, famed music magazine Rolling Stone developed an index of criteria to best crown the genre’s new queen.  For anyone who has been alive for the last three years (inhabitants of the animal kingdom included), it was a no brainer that Lady Gaga would be enthroned the genre’s reigning female monarch.  However, the list, which only included Pop’s active acts, was greeted with so much backlash it was later revised.

But, even the revision still featured Lady Gaga (a relative newcomer) above legends Mariah Carey and Celine Dion (with no mention of Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston).  While the magazine’s attempt to fill the void is applaudable, it is also laughable.  With music’s other matronly monarchs having a spate of success under their individual belts, is it really fair to say the Lady named queen would only have two albums under hers and less than 5 years in the game?

Thusly, That Grape wants to know:  what should be the criteria for determining queenship? Sales? Influence?  Awards?  If so, with so many candidates, who is the Queen[Q1] ?

That Grape Juice has chosen six leading ladies who would probably be the real contenders for the throne.  Each of the succeeding songstresses have, at minimum, 20 years experience,100 million records sold, and immeasurable influence over the industry (especially over those who decorated Rolling Stones’ list).  Did your fave make the cut?

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