High energy performer Chris Brown called in to DJ Whoo Kid’s ‘Shade 45’ yesterday. The singer discussed his decision of putting popular model Cassie in his video, his relationship with Jay-Z, his album cover, his thoughts on Rihanna’s recent press interviews, and a possible mixtape. Brown’s new album ‘Graffiti’ hits stores on December 8th.

I must admit that for the first time, I am actually eager to get my hands on a Chris Brown album. Thus, I was a bit disappointed that the discussion didn’t delve deeper into the nature of the record or the concepts behind individual tracks. Either way, it was a very interesting interview indeed.

Sidebar: Did anyone else catch how Brown’s tone changed when Whoo asked him if he would ever get back with Rihanna? Sorry, but that was hilarious!

Thoughts?

Your favourite ‘model’ and mine Rihanna poses it up in this exclusive shoot for the New York Times. Though I’m sure some will disagree, I’m actually feeling this look.

What do you think of her look?

This week’s From The Vault comes in the form two videos because…well..I feel like it LOL!

The first (above) is Blaque‘s 1999 punchy R&B hit ‘Bring It All To Me’. Mentored by the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes (hence perhaps the subtle similarities to TLC), the trio served up this killer cut as the 2nd single from their debut LP, which was released the same year. As well as being a great song, I vividly remember really gravitating to the fact that all of the ladies got equal mic / face time and collectively were very promising. While the group have since disbanded, only to re-group to disband again (!), they left us with gems like this, which is alright by me!

The 2nd of our picks this week is UK group Eternal‘s 1997 chart-topping collaboration with BeBe Winans ‘I Wanna Be The Only One’. Fronted by power-house vocalist Easther Bennett, the group IMO still stand as the UK’s best female group (vocally) in many-many years. I still blast this song out from time to time, and it sounds as fresh as it did when it first came out. Quality music lives forever!

Your thoughts?

Peep singing sensation Alexandra Burke on the set of the video for her next single ‘Broken Heels’ in Los Angeles last week (with more pics below). The immensely talented X-Factor vocalist recently spoke on her plans on cracking the US market as well as Beyonce, who loaned her musical director Frank Gatson to Ms. Burke for the new video:

On Cracking The US:

“I want to crack America but I’m c***ping myself. Even Europe scares me. America’s a huge deal. In the UK everyone knows me because of the show but in America they have no idea who I am.

I won’t be annoyed if things don’t work like Leona Lewis. I’m giving this my all and I want to make it work.

But I’m different to Leona. I’m going to work my a**e off. I guess I started on the show being compared to her and now I’m back being compared. If theyaccept you they do, but if they don’t then they don’t.”

On Beyonce

“Beyonce has lent me her choreographer. Frank worked with me for the video in LA last week and he’s helping me out with my live stuff. He’s out of this world and I want him to be in my life for ever. He’s given me a whole new identity as a performer.”

{Source}

Go Alex! Anyone who follows the industry closely knows that snagging Frank Gatson is an oh-so-good-look for Ms. Burke. The song is growing on me, I’m the video and its anticipated killer choreography will speed up the process.

As regards cracking the States, Alex has the talent, I just wonder if she has the material. Hmmm…I guess they can always record extra tracks (ala Leona) for the US release. Generally, it’ll be interesting to see how her US label Epic place her, considering Leona has been targeted towards the Pop audience (if I’m correct, Ms Lewis has yet to appear at or on anything BET related?), while Alex has that Urban edge but the music, IMO, wouldn’t fit with the BET/urban chart mandate over there. A shame, as had her album been more balanced and less outright Pop, she would have been box-fresh ready to hit the States and likely succeed; something I still as a possibility, just with quite a bit of tweaking.

Your thoughts?

Former Sugababe Keisha Buchanan is keeping things moving since being controversially ousted from the group back in September. As well as working diligently on her solo album, she also features on fellow Brit Jay Sean‘s latest LP (‘All or Nothing’) on the track ‘Far Away’ (which surfaced today).

A laid-back cut, with a ‘knock’ and a great meshing together of Buchanan and Sean’s voices make this one a winner – something if I’m to be honest, I never thought I’d say about a Jay Sean track. Listening to this has definitely wet my appetite even more so  for more Keisha’s solo LP. Roll on 2010…

Hit or Miss?

Amidst rumours of a possible split from her label, Mariah Carey’s ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’ remix album will be arriving in stores in February 2010. The news was confirmed today by the diva’s manager Chris Lighty via his official twitter page. An all-star list of Hip-Hop/R&B acts have been lined up for the project including Big Boi, R. Kelly, Trey Songz, T-Pain, Jodeci, Gucci Mane and Jermaine Dupri. The original version of ‘Memoirs…’ has thus far shipped an underwhelming 325,000 copies in the US.

To say that I am excited will be the understatement of the year! It was literally only moments ago that I was blasting the ‘H.A.T.E.U.’ remix and wondering what the rest of the LP will sound like. Hopefully she switches up the productions on all of the tracks and delivers classic sounds in the fashion that helped establish her as an icon in the industry. 2010 is already shaping up to be a great year!

Thoughts?

Pop mega-star Janet Jackson has revealed in an interview The Times newspaper that she is readying a European tour for 2010. It will mark the first time in over 10 years that Jackson, 43, has toured this side of the globe. {Shout out to Hattie Collins who conducted the interview!}

Finally!!!

It’s been too long. After all the label drama and mishandled projects, it’ll be great to see Janet live on our turf again. You already know I’ll be there. Her new team really do seem to be on the ball…

Your thoughts?

As reported earlier, Pop sensation Lady GaGa hit up The Ellen Degeneres Show this week. We already posted her performance of ‘Speechless’ prior to the show’s airing yesterday, however since then her performance of worldwide smash ‘Bad Romance’ and her interview have surfaced. Check out the great performance above and the interview below. Enjoy.

Your thoughts?

Holding true to our promise of keeping things fresh here at That Grape Juice (v.2.0 baby!), we bring you ‘Cover Star’. Completing our current feature-list (From The Vault, Back In The Beat etc), Cover Star will each week showcase regular folk’s rendition of your favourite tracks. Recent history has shown the web to be the place to discover new talent – talent which is undeniably out there in abundance. So what better way to give shine to undiscovered talent than on your favourite site and mine – That Grape Juice!

This week’s Cover Star is 21 year old Enrico from London who, with a little help from his friends, offers a unique spin on Janet’s ‘Feedback’ (with a vocal nod to Destiny’s Child and Brandy…you’ll see what I mean). Check it out:

I really enjoyed this! From the harmonies (which for the most part were uber on-point) to the arrangements, to the DC3 and Brandy references, to the overall switching up of la Jan’s classic (yes I said it), this was awesome.

For more on Enrico, check out his Youtube page

Having recently released the video for her new song ‘Yesterday (Remix)‘ featuring Trey Songz, another track from Toni Braxton‘s recent studio sessions has surfaced. The song, entitled ‘Stay’, will supposedly be featured on her forthcoming album, ‘Pulse’. The LP hits stores on February 2nd 2010.

This is a nice track but their are elements in the melody that remind me a lot of one her songs, ‘Melt’. Nonetheless, Toni delivers a simple yet beautiful vocal performance. Although I am still waiting to be ‘wowed’ by anything that she has put forward all year (with the  exception of ‘Heart Never Had A Hero’), I will definitely be giving her album a listen when it hits stores next year.

Hit or Miss?

Pop phenom Lady GaGa took the stage on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ recently. The singer performed the track ‘Speechless’ from her second studio album ‘The Fame Monster’. The track, which was produced by GaGa herself, was first performed at this year’s American Music Awards in a medley with ‘Bad Romance’ (now at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100). ‘The Fame Monster’ was released earlier this week on November 23rd.

Once again, GaGa delivered a solid performance. All the gimmicks aside, this girl really has a lot of talent and continues to prove why she is a real ‘monster’ on the charts. With showings like this, I sense that 2010 will be another great year for her career.

Sidebar: She has great shoulder pads and she can sing! That is such a rare combination in today’s music industry…

Thoughts?

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ABC aired an hour long presentation of the making of Beyonce’s ‘I Am…Yours’ tour last evening. The special depicted the process that the singer endured with the selection of her all girl band, the production of the show and the conception of many of her popular songs. Furthermore, Beyonce gave a narrated time line of her career from her youth to her current status as one of the most demanded artists in entertainment. The full DVD of Beyonce’s ‘I Am… Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas’ was released on November 23rd.

Having just watched the show myself, I was a bit perplexed. Judging by the advertisements that ABC had been airing for the last two weeks, I assumed the network would be showing performances from the DVD in the same manner that BET did with the ‘Beyonce Experience’. Instead, this was more similar to an episode of MTV’s ‘Making The Video’ than anything else. Either way, it was a brilliant marketing strategy because people (like me) would be even more interested in purchasing the DVD. Interesting.

Thoughts?