Check out R&B diva Alicia Keys posing it up in the latest issue of ‘W’ magazine.

The soulful songstress is celebrating 10 years since the release of her debut effort ‘Songs In A Minor’. Speaking to the publication about breaking into the business, she said:

“I just wanted to be who I was, which was like so many other girls I knew. We grew up in the city, had a hard edge and obstacles to overcome, but we were still young and beautiful. I didn’t want to be all dressed up, all made up—I wanted to be myself, which hadn’t been done before.”

“I was a young girl with very strong ideas but no experience. I just knew that everything else I was doing was wrong—that all the suggestions weren’t what was in my mind, they weren’t what it was meant to be.”

“How terrible would it have been if I had come out with some watered-down version of who I am? People fell in love with the real me, and I still feel blessed that that was how the journey began.” {Source}

Your thoughts?

This week’s That Grape Juice Cover Star is Tyler Jacob. The 21 year old New Jersey native serves up a soaring rendition of at Melanie Fiona‘s latest single ‘Gone & Never Coming Back’.

Check out his must-see showing below:

In an age where the male vocalist is a rare find, Jacob’s showing certainly shows there’s hope on the horizon. An undeniably gifted talent, here’s hoping he garners the attention he so clearly deserves.

For more on Tyler, check out his Youtube page

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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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Your thoughts?

It may be her first video, however  X Factor’s Cher Lloyd was clearly not interested in playing it safe.

Indeed, the 18 year old donned this interesting ensemble on the set of the of the clip for her new single. The shoot reportedly took place in London this week, and serves as the launch-pad for Lloyd, who has spent the last few months working in the US with the industry’s creme dela creme (see: RedOne and The Runners).

What do you think of Ms. Lloyd’s get-up?

Your thoughts?

No…time…to..waste

This seems to be the mantra Beyonce‘s team are adhering to. For after reigniting interest in ‘Run The World (Girls)’, and generating a buzz with album cut ‘1+1’, the superstar is to release the 2nd official single from her forthcoming ‘4’ LP next week.

Details after the jump…

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It hasn’t even been a month since the premiere of her ‘Super Bass’ visual but that hasn’t stopped Rap royal Nicki Minaj from releasing a brand new video for the song ‘Did It On ‘Em’.

Lifted from her debut album ‘Pink Friday’, the visual like the song itself will be sure to generate a heightened response from those who say it is a response to the many daggers thrown at her by struggling rapper Lil Kim.

Peep the wigged wonder in action below…

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It’s been a minute since we’ve heard anything from rapper Eve. However, the self-proclaimed Pitbull in a Skirt had plenty to say when quizzed on th on-going beef between her fellow femcee’s Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Kim.

Speaking on the Tim Westwood show recently, she said…

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A break-out star in every sense of the term, Jessie J has undeniably shone as one of this year’s brightest talents.

With her unparalleled vocals and unapologetic image, the British singer has managed to make the world at large sit up and listen – garnering chart-topping success in the process.

In this candid interview, the 23 year old talks to That Grape Juice about her rise to stardom, her ‘Who You Are’ album, career set-backs, her admiration for Beyonce, her sophomore LP, backlash because of her colour, and much more. A great read, if we must say so ourselves. Enjoy!

Jessie J Shouts Out That Grape Juice

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Pop phenom Lady GaGa assembled a mass of her monster’s in New York’s Central Park this morning for a mini-concert on ABC’s Good Morning America.

The hotly anticipated show is no doubt designed to help the singer push sales her ‘Born This Way’ LP even further. As earlier reported, the album is on course to debut with sales in the region of one million.

Check out her show-stopping performances of ‘Hair‘, ‘Judas’, ‘The Edge of Glory’, and more after the jump. Her entrance is a must-see!

*Updated w/ all performances!*

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Earplugs at the ready? Pop princess Rihanna took to ‘The Today Show‘ stage moments ago to perform some of her celebrated hits. The nasal nymphomaniac wowed fans with renditions of ‘Only Girl‘ as well as smash hit ‘S&M‘ and more.

Next month sees the model kick off  to her long awaited ‘Loud Tour’ and if today’s performance is an indicator, it should be avoided like the plague. Unless being subjected to the screams of a goat in labor is your thing?

Watch the full showing below…

*Vocals may not be suitable for minors*

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Despite becoming Pop’s recurring punchline, Britney Spears continues along the hype that is her latter-day career, yesterday shooting the video for her new single ‘I Wanna Go’.

Shot in Los Angeles yesterday, the clip is the third visual offering from the performer’s ‘Femme Fatale’ LP. Hollywood Life were on set of the shoot and shared the following:

The video, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, will feature hardly any choreography, “It’s very personality and action driven,” our source said. Rather than play up the sexuality of the song, the piece will showcase Britney’s sense of humor in a playful way. According to our source, “It’s not really indicative of the song at all.”

No word on whether Britney’s stunt double could make the shoot.

Your thoughts?

Since last Sunday, Beyonce‘s epic Billboard showing has been the topic on the lips of many. Hence, when our friends over at 24 Wired caught up with bandmate Kelly Rowland, they couldn’t help but probe the ‘Motivation’ singer on her ‘sister’s’ performance.

Speaking from the set of the video for Lonny Bereal‘s ‘Favour’ (which she features on), Rowland was also quizzed on her thoughts about Beyonce thanking LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson during her speech when accepting Billboard’s Millenium Award.

She also shared tidbits about her own project, plans for a tour, and performed a brief acapella with Bereal.

All the action after the jump…

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R&B star Ciara sizzles in a barely there two-piece in US Magazine’s Hot Bodies issue. The ‘Ride’ singer posed for the mini-shoot on the rooftoop of the Mondrian SoHo Hotel in New York recently.

Gushing on her body, she said:

I feel sexiest when I’m by myself, walking around nude. That’s when I feel really good. I have this new obsession with nudity. It may sound weird, but I just love embracing the body. I think it’s beautiful. {Source}

However, most noteworthy in the feature is the announcement that the 25 year old is set to embark on a Summer tour. The news will no doubt delight fans who, since the release of the ill-fated ‘Basic Instinct’ LP last year, have seen very little of the performer. Particularly on a musical tip.

Yet, in as much as it’s great to see Ms. Harris hustle her way back to the top, one has to wonder what kind of tour she’s looking to set out on. For,  with no ‘hit’ to back its cause (not to mention the dismal sales of ‘Instinct’), it’ll definitely be interesting to see if fans flock to any such live set.

Still, given her undeniable ability to thrill as a performer, this could very well be just what she needs to reconnect with her base. Time, as ever, will tell.

Your thoughts?