Hitmaker Swizz Beats spoke today for the first time about what exactly caused his marriage to singer Mashonda to result in divorce. While rumours positioning R&B star Alicia Keys as the reason for the split have been rampant, the producer – real name Kaseem Dean told DJ Enuff otherwise. Check out the video above to see what he had to say…

Your thoughts?

As previously reported, our girl Kelly Rowland has been working with hit-maker Ne-Yo on her forthcoming Universal Motown debut. There is now reliable word that new Ne-Yo demo ‘Tonight’ (formerly titled ‘Halo’) has indeed been recorded by the Destiny’s Child alumni for the record.

Although it’s currently unknown if the reference track will indeed feature on the album (which itself is said to be close to completion), the song certainly makes for a compelling listen. If this is what Ms. Kelly is cooking up in the lab, I’m even more amped for the album than I was previously! Produced by Stargate and penned by Ne-Yo, the song is a great embodiment of the Urban/Pop/Dance sound Kelly is going for this go round.

Check it out below:

Hit or Miss?

Despite releasing a solid body of work with his last LP ‘Graffiti’, it appears Chris Brown still can’t shake the negative consequences of ‘the incident’. Indeed the lack of radio play, and declining requests for appearances, have seen the 20  year old take to his Say Now page to plead with his fans to request his records. You can listen to the message below:

Granted I may catch some flack for this; I really think it time folk just moved on. While I understand and accept that Chris’ actions were deplorable, he has a) taken responsibility for his wrongs and b) been punished for them by law and c) will forever have to live with the guilt of what he did and the dent it put in his career. Hence, why any entity (radio, TV etc) should feel it necessary to stage-manage the level of Chris’ potential success, is completely beyond me.

Important to note is the fact that I feel that he should have been kept out of the public eye significantly longer than he was. What’s more, the tit-for-tat promotional strategy he and Rihanna were both using around their respective release dates was (retrospectively) appalling. That said, if Ms. Fenty has forgiven and pressed on with her life…why can’t everyone else?

Your thoughts?

Ahead of the release of his new LP ‘Battle of the Sexes’, Ludacris stopped by BET’s 106 & Park to perform the record’s 2nd single ‘My Chick Bad’ along with Diamond and Trina. Peep the performance above!

Your thoughts?

Things appear to be going from bad to worse for Pop group Girlicious. Never quite fulfilling their potential due to line-up changes and label drama, the trio today face new a dilemma, as prominent member Natalie Mejia was arrested after police found her with 12 bags of cocaine (yes, you read right….12!). The singer is currently being held on $30,000  bail. Check out the fine-details below, courtesy of the Glendale News Press:

Mejia and Peter Asencio, 28, of Burbank were taken into custody after a police noticed a 1998 Ford Mustang driving at a high rate of speed, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The officer stopped the car at Victory Boulevard and Winchester Avenue, just before it went onto the Ventura (134) Freeway, he said.

Mejia, who was a passenger in the car, was apparently heading to an airport for a concert in Canada, Lorenz said.

Police searched the Mustang after discovering Asencio’s driver’s license was suspended, Lorenz said.

During the search, police allegedly found multiple individual baggies of cocaine in Mejia’s Gucci purse.

It’s kinda sad that upon reading the headline, I already knew it’d be Natalie. Shameful. Any way, I guess this will be the last we’ll be hearing from Girlicious…

Your thoughts?

Though R. Kelly‘s latest LP ‘Untitled’ seems to have disappeared from the charts with the quickness, the R&B star is still releasing singles from the underrated set – at least here in the UK. Indeed, the next release to be lifted from the album on this side of the pond has been confirmed to be ‘Be My #2’.

The funky, 70s inspired cut is refreshingly unlike anything Kelly has released previously, and  moreover, unlike anything populating the charts at the moment. Yet still, it boasts much in the way of radio-friendliness and could plausibly be another hit for the veteran. Great track.

Hit or Miss?

R&B singer LeToya was in New York last night to host MBK Entertainment’s ‘We Got Next Showcase (Part 2)’. The purpose of the event, which took place at the Highline Ballroom, was to shine light on new and upcoming talent.

About Ms. Luckett; she looked great! It’d be awesome to see her play around with her look more, as she’s pretty much been rocking the same style since embarking on her solo career. While the saying does go ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ (and it’s definitely not broke), it would be refreshing to see Toya switch it up a little. Just a thought.

Your thoughts?

UK star Taio Cruz has taken the US by storm with his Stateside debut ‘Break Your Heart’. The Ludacris-assisted song rocketed #53-#1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today; in the process making chart history by registering the highest jump on the chart for an artist with their first single.

Congratulations are no doubt in order for the London-based singer/songwriter. It will be interesting to see if he’s able to keep the momentum going with the future releases from his ‘Rokstarr’ LP.

Your thoughts?

As R&B star Usher readies his sixth studio album ‘Raymond v Raymond’ for its March 23rd release, the 31 year old features on the cover of the latest issue of Billboard magazine.

The interesting feature (click here to read), reveals some of the project’s behind-the-scenes hold ups (he is now managed by AEG CEO Randy Phillips – not his mother), as well as asks whether the Grammy winner can indeed make a comeback. A great read.

Randomness: Usher shot the video for ‘Lil’ Freak’ (his next US single) yesterday with Nicki Minaj. Word has it Ciara will feature in the clip.

Back to the magazine’s focus….

Do you think Usher can make a comeback?

Antonio L.A. Reid has found himself in hot water after being accused of mishandling many of his label’s biggest projects during the last year. The Island Def Jam CEO has reportedly been facing pressure from Lucian Grainge, the new Universal Music Group CEO, following his rampant spending and the incredibly low sales of Mariah Carey and Rihanna’s recent releases. Moreover, Reid’s recent efforts to sign Jennifer Lopez (who has not had a hit  record in years) have made him the target of serious media criticism.

Reid was scheduled to answer questions  from fellow industry moguls regarding the issue at the Billboard 2010 Music & Money Symposium at the St. Regis last week but failed to make an appearance after one of his sons mysteriously fell ill. To date, Carey’s ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’ has sold just short of 500k units since it’s release in September while Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ has only shipped 2.5 worldwide compared to the 2.6 million that her ‘Good Girl Gone Bade’ album sold in the US alone.

Dear Mariah and Rihanna: Get out now! Do not pass ‘go’. Do not collect $200. Just get the heck out of Dodge!

Thoughts?

Steph Jones has been been busy making a name for himself in the industry lately and now he has another project to add to his resumé. The singer has just released the music video for ‘La La Means Love’ which was directed by Kamal Robinson. The track was written by The-Dream and produced by Tricky Stewart, and is available on his ‘Gravity’ mixtape. Click here to download the entire record and check out the video for ‘La La Means Love’ below:

(more…)

Since starting That Grape Juice, we’ve consistently received calls to shine light on up-and-coming talent. Hence, in listening to those calls, as well as continuing to build and expand our brand, we introduce our latest feature…‘Freshly Squeezed’. Set to be rolled out every other week, Freshly Squeezed will illuminate the freshest new talent – signed or unsigned.

Without further ado, then, this week’s featured artist is Grace Obika!

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Hailing from North London, 24 year old Grace Obika has steadily been building a buzz since hitting the performing circuit three years ago. Indeed, the singer, who is being touted as the new face of commercial Indie-Soul, has performed at London’s famed Jazz Cafe, the African Music Awards, and was a finalist on MTV’s ‘Hugo Urban Rules’. Impressive on paper, yet even more so when considering she has achieved this all while studying for a degree in Biomedical Sciences (Hons), graduating in 2008.

Raised in a music-orientated family (her first cousin is R&B crooner Lemar), Grace began her musical journey in the church, singing in the choir. Since then, she’s not looked back, and has successfully carved out a niche for herself – drawing inspiration from the likes of Faith Evans, Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Fantasia, and Brandy.

Set to release her debut LP independently this May, the record features writing credits from Obika herself, as well as US producers who have worked with the likes of EnVogue and Usher. This young talent will definitely be one to keep an eye out for!

Check out her track’s ‘So Right’ (a personal favourite) and ‘Rainbow’ below:

So Right

Rainbow

For more on Grace Obika, check out her official website!

Think you or your artist should be featured on ‘Freshly Squeezed’? Drop an email to freshness@thatgrapejuice.net

Your thoughts?