Up until this year Melody Thorton was best known for the obligatory belted ad-libs found at the end of every Pussycat Dolls song. Since then Melody has been hard at work on her debut album, determined to make a name for herself as a solo artist before Nicole Scherzinger can.

On the heels of releasing her 10-track mixtape, ‘P.O.Y.B.L. (Piss On Your Black List)’ and a music video for ‘Lipstick & Guilt’, Thorton earned herself a gig singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the L.A. Marathon.

The national anthem is no easy song to sing as it requires a singer’s singer to appropriately tackle the technical complexity of its melody and the challenging vocal it demands.

Listen to Thorton belt her way through America’s favorite song after the jump and sound-off below.

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In the heat of her hype, it’s  easy to forget how far Nicki Minaj has come from her days as a struggling MC.

For, putting her revival of Female Rap aside, her feats as an artist/aspiring mogul have been astounding to say the least.

From scoring a lucrative 360 deal with the folk over at Young Money , to negotiating her way into MAC‘s Viva Glam campaign, it’s clear to see that  her ‘rise to the top’ is down to her oft overlooked business savvy, and not her oh-so infamous ‘assets’.

Not convinced?

Then peep what Forbes have to say about her recent deal with Pepsi Co, below…

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Toni Braxton is back!

Clad in a hot pink swimsuit, the soulful baratone shot the video for new single ‘I Heart You’ in Los Angeles last night.

The cut is the first to be lifted from the diva’s forthcoming new album, which she told That Grape Juice is being released as a “collective”. Such a setup  will see Braxton pair with different labels on a non-exclusive basis to market and distribute each single.

Exciting stuff.

Peep more pics after the jump….

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Hide your wigs, hide your heels, and hide your McDonalds material!

Beyonce‘s back and ready to slay the stage!

Details after the jump…

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He may go by The Dream, yet many of his soundbites are often a nightmare for his publicist.

And while the hitmaker’s latest comments are sure to sit in that basket, we can’t but feel it opens the floor for an interesting debate.

See what we mean below…

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This is one performance you don’t want to miss.

Today, in support of her upcoming LP ‘Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection’, Katy Perry took to ‘Radio One’s Live Lounge’ for a live set of some of her favorite music.

Performing some of her own classics, the ‘Mannequin‘ belle also took The Throne‘s ‘N*gga’s In Paris’, with truly interesting results.

Watch below…

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Katy Perry gives fans a taste of ‘Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection’ with the new cut ‘Wide Awake’.

Feast on the track after the jump…

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Embracing her global star status, Nicki Minaj has today announced a groundbreaking UK tour.

Set to kick off in June, the trek is being mounted in support of the femcee’s hotly anticipated ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ LP – which arrives on April 3rd.

Dates, venues, and ticket information await below…

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We’re growing!

The last four and a half years have seen That Grape Juice established as one of the net’s premier Urban Pop outlets! And in our quest to further re-affirm our positioning, last year saw us launch sister site That Grape Juice TV.

Fast forward 9 months and things are all sorts of popping! Already commanding thousands of visitors a day, TGJ TV serves up something new, with the same “voice” you’ve come to know and love over the years.

Get the lowdown on what our two purple platforms are serving up below!

That Grape Juice is

* Your #1 source for all things Urban Pop!

* one-stop shop for  music, news, reviews, artist interviews, and more!

* your favourite artists’ favourite site!

* receiver of co-signs from the likes of E! News, MTV, BET, and BBC Radio.

www.thatgrapejuice.net

Click here to subscribe to feed!

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AND

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That Grape Juice TV is….

* the net’s fastest growing destination for all things Urban Hollywood – on the big and small screen

* where you can scoop the latest on your favourite TV, movie, and reality stars!

* the “hub” for all of TGJ’s growing “original content” (The Splash, The Word, The Business).

* where you can watch previews and full episodes of some of your favourite shows!

www.thatgrapejuice.tv

Click here to subscribe to feed!

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So, for all things Urban Pop culture…

Keep it locked on That Grape Juice!

And it begins.

Lady GaGa‘s media blackout commenced last night, as the credits rolled on her “final interview for some time” with Oprah Winfrey.

The intriguiging segment, which aired on OWN’s ‘Oprah’s Next Chapter’, saw the megastar and her mother talk her astronominal rise, the effect it’s had on the family, being bullied Whitney Houston‘s passing, and much more.

A great watch; one you can find below!

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Moments ago Lana Del Rey premiered the official music video for her latest single ‘Blue Jeans’.

The visual continues Rey’s [now] signature ‘fallen 1920’s Hollywood starlet on the verge of coming undone’ motif backed by excellent cinematography.

Check out the stunning video after the jump and sound-off below.

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Mind. Out. Of. The. Gutter!

The Queen B Lil Kim was all the buzz when she dropped by Palermo’s Bakery this weekend.  Seen snapping a few photos with fans/bakery workers, the ‘How Many Licks’ hitmaker was said to be taste-testing/designing a cake for a friend’s baby shower.

Fans may be ready to find out what the pint sized rapper is (musically) cooking up herself, but until then, they’ll have to catch her performing the golden oldies on BET’s Rip The Runway .

Tidbit:  Might we add, Kim is looking…dare we say it…Great!

Your thoughts?