R&B songstress Alicia Keys performed a Yahoo Music set comprised of her past hits and new gems from upcoming LP ‘The Element of Freedom’ at New York University’s Skirball Center recently. Peep her awesome performance of new single ‘Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart’ above, as well as several others after the jump…

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Check out Mya’s performance during the 7th Week of competition on ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ The sultry singer danced the Foxtrot with her partner Dmitry and basically floored the judges (with the exception of Len Goodman, the token hater). I hope she has space on her mantle next to her Grammy Award (bet you forgot she had one!) because that trophy is as good as hers! Go team!

Your thoughts?

Last evening Leona Lewis took the stage at the Hackney Empire in London to perform material from her upcoming album. I love the drama in her eyes.

Also on the performance circuit was Lil’ Kim, who offered a different kind of show while performing at Club Zenith in Holland. Long live Kim!

What do you think of the pics?

Diva Mariah Carey paid a visit to The Jay Leno Show a few hours ago to promote her latest projects. In the light-hearted interview, the 39 year old songstress spoke on her new album ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ (which is tumbling down the charts, with just 275, 000 copies sold), her role in the critically-acclaimed movie ‘Precious’, her perfume and more.

While she came across quite well, I was rather surprised that she didn’t perform anything from the album. I mean you’d think she and her team would understand the fact that ‘Memoirs’ is on course to flop harder than ‘Glitter’; and no I’m not being a cow, I’m just saying…

In other Mariah news, fan-favourite ‘H.A.T.E U’ has now been confirmed as her next single, this despite a video having already been shot for ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ as well as the many promo performances she done for the song. Word has it Mariah and her team were unimpressed with the final edit of the Hype Williams directed video, hence the hold up. Is it me, or is this project becoming more of a mess with each passing day?

Your thoughts?

Today marks the US release of Amerie’s 4th studio album ‘In Love & War’.

With it being 3 years since the release of her criminally underrated ‘Because I Love It’ LP, the 29 year old will no doubt be hoping this new body of work will give her the recognition she deserves.

That said, though we are loving the album here at That Grape Juice, her label Def Jam don’t seem to be! One needn’t look further than the  next-to-no promotion for the record, as well as the fact she has yet to perform on any televised show. It’s such a shame, as in an industry in much need of legitimate talent, it can be staring someone like Amerie right in the face, yet shun it in favour of lesser talented acts. I can only hope she gets the recognition she deserves in due course.

We here at That Grape Juice want to know if you’ll be buying ‘In Love & War’? Have you got/heard it already? Hit or Miss?

Your thoughts?

Wow, it really does seem like Rihanna overload today. Just as a the official tracklist of her ‘Rated R’ LP was unveiled, a new cut from the album, the Young Jeezy assisted ‘Hard’ surfaced. Is it any good though?

Admittedly this is perhaps the best track I’ve heard from the album thus far. Saying that, that’s not particularly a difficult feat to achieve. Sticking to its good points, though, the beat goes hard (no pun intended) and Ms. Fenty’s swagger (however unjustified that is is) rides the production quite effortlessly during the verses – in the process making her irritatingly nasal vocals (on the repetitive and lyrically empty chorus) that much more tolerable this go round.  Why wasn’t this the first single?

Hit or Miss?

Chris Brown seconds ago  on Twitter unveiled the official album cover for his 3rd studio LP ‘Graffiti’, which you can check out above. Awesome!

The album hits stores December 15th.

Will you be buying ‘Graffiti’?

Rihanna has revealed the official tracklist for her eagerly (by some) anticipated LP ‘Rated R’. Due to hit stores November 23rd, the album boasts collaborations with will.i.am, Young Jeezy and Slash. Peep the tracklist below:

1. “Mad House”
2. “Wait Your Turn”
3. “Hard” feat. Young Jeezy
4. “Stupid in Love”
5. “ROCKSTAR 101″ feat. Slash
6. “Russian Roulette”
7. “Fire Bomb”
8. “Rude Boy”
9. “Photographs” feat. will.i.am
10. “G4L”
11. “Te Amo”
12. “Cold Case Love”
13. “The Last Song”

While this reads quite compellingly, I would bet good money on the material being sub-par – if  ‘Russian Roulette’ and ‘Wait Your Turn’ are anything to go by. I mean it says a hell of a lot when both the first and second singles are average at best (and I stress, ‘at best’); surely these are supposed to be what sells the album in the first place, right? Though Ms. Fenty’s piercing billy-goat bleats left me reaching for the ear-plugs, its hard to deny the production on her cuts were top notch. Now, everything just seems a mess.

Oh well, I imagine this will be re-released 500 times, with 100 singles until it does what the label hopes it will – sell respectable numbers. Mind you I find it quite ironic that the fellow in the post below is getting more positive feedback for his material than Ms. Fenty. And ‘No’, I’m not condoning anything, I’m just saying…

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In other Rihanna news, get ready for a full on Ms. Fenty media assault starting this week. Interestingly, the video for ‘Wait Your Turn’ premieres tomorrow, the same day ‘Russian Roulette’ becomes available on iTunes. The previously announced appearances on Good Morning America and 20/20, take place on Thursday and Friday respectively. Lastly, the video for the record’s official lead single ‘Russian Roulette’ is set to debut….FRIDAY (THE) 13th November. {She really ain’t helping ease ‘those’ rumours is she?}

Your thoughts?

Chris Brown’s PR team just sent along these exclusive shots from the R&B star’s new video ‘Crawl’, which features Cassie. Expect the Joseph Khan directed video premiere any day now. Looks good.

Tidbit: Anyone else feel Cassie should just become a video a chick now?

What do you think of the pics?

The hotly anticipated video for 50 Cent’s ‘Baby By Me’, starring Kelly Rowland and Ne-Yo premièred literally minutes ago…literally. Directed by Chris Robinson, the clip sees the G-Unit general envision Ms. Kelly being ‘his’.

Our take on the video? It’s great! It features an engaging plot, looks like $$$ were spent on it (unlike some of today’s credit crunch clips) and Ms. Kelly looks stunning. What’s more, for as so-so as 50’s recent material has been, I’m really feeling this song, something its accompanying video will serve to intensify. Good stuff.

Tidbit: I can only imagine the rumours that will fly after this vid. Whether true or otherwise, as they say, any publicity is good publicity!

What do you think of the video?

In a recent interview with Sirius/XM Satellite Radio, Pop sensation Lady GaGa provided insight into the cancellation of ‘The Fame Kills’ tour on which she was to embark with rapper Kanye West. The singer, whose album re-release, ‘The Fame Monster’, hits stores on November 24th, discussed how she and Kanye came to the decision to cancel one of the most anticipated events of the year.

This interview demonstrates that behind all the gimmicks and the glamour, GaGa is indeed an intelligent business woman (although still possibly insane lol). Indeed, I sense that both parties made the right decision for her to hit the road on her own in light of the recent public indignation with Mr. West. Furthermore, the fact that she played an active role in the decision certainly says something about her weight as an artist. Other acts (who will remained unnamed…) would rely on direct intervention from their labels and simply go with the flow like the puppets that they are.

Thoughts?