You know the deal; That Grape Juice, once again, wants to see what you all are listening to. Which 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to Urban music; could be something new, Throwback, religious, even something you made yourself LOL. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are – in no particular order:
1) For The Lovers – Whitney Houston 2) Worth It – Whitney Houston 3) I Got You – Whitney Houston 4) Heard Em All – Amerie
That Grape Juice can EXCLUSIVELY reveal that Whitney Houston will be premiering not one, but TWO new videos in the coming weeks.
The video for ‘I Look To You’ is set to debut September 10th. While the clip for ‘Million Dollar Bill’ will be unveiled on September 16th.
In other Whitney news, we have received confirmed word that she will be performing ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’ on The Oprah Winfrey Show – at the personal request of Oprah herself.
Also, a televised special is being considered by Whitney’s team for later this year.
World Star Hip-Hop today posted this indescribably sad video of actress Maia Campbell, best known for her role as Tiffany in the LL Cool J sitcom ‘In The House’, going off on some guy in LA. There have been reports for years that the once promising actress had become mentally unstable following the death of her mother a few years ago and was potentially on drugs – something this video is strong evidence in support of. Judging by some of what Maia was saying, she is prostituting as well. So so sad.
In no way is this a case of kicking one while down (there are many a site for folk to go on for that kind of nonsense). Rather, I’m posting this to create awareness that Maia needs help. No, I’m not Saint Sam, but whatever I can do in my own little way, I will. Because this just isn’t the one. SMH…
It turns out ‘Angels’ is the ‘official’ lead single from Diddy’s much hyped ‘Last Train To Paris’ which pulls into station this November via Bad Boy. Peep the teaser clip for the video above. You can also listen to the full song below:
In a recent interview with Spanish magazine, MUST Mag, Kelly Rowland revealed a few interesting details about her as yet untitled 3rd solo album. Peep some of the main points (credit to lenor1 over at DC3 Forever!):
– Kelly has been working on her new album with Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne – Lollipop, Beyonce – Radio, Sweet Dreams, Pitbull) she says he has a very good understanding of dance music and understands where she wants to go with her music
– She has also worked with Rico Love (Michelle Williams – Unexpected, Beyoncé)
– She has also worked with Rob Allen (Rihanna – Disturbia) and Claude Kelly
– She definitely wants to tour with the next album and is making sure that is one of her priorities and that her next album will be a success!
– She says she is very happy with her new manager Jeff Rabhan and that he knows the music industry very well!
– She wants to do more movies and recently went to a few castings
– also currently producing a television program and is intending to launch a line of luggage!
– She is currently in the studio working on her next album
– she has NOT signed a new record label yet
Awesome snippets of info there, perhaps the most we’ve heard from Kelly regarding her music in some time now. Things definitely look to continue to be on the up for this talented star.
The fact that she, at the time of publication of the interview, had yet to sign a new deal, has me thinking she may be looking to finish the album and shop it to different labels. I say this as, with the massive success of ‘When Love Takes Over’, her previous solo hits, along with her Destiny’s Child alumni status, Kelly is one of the hottest ‘free agents’ in the industry at present. There’s no doubt labels have been approaching her with deals. I’m assuming she’s taking a different approach and looking to position herself as best as possible – in terms of creative control, label project budget (she’s likely paying for studio time and producers out of her own pocket) etc. The future looks as bright as the dress she’s wearing in the pic above lol. Onwards and upwards!
Tidbit: I’m still holding out for either a Kelly creative collabo with Darkchild (ala ‘Lose My Breath’) and/or her hook up with Danja for a killer uptempo. Still, I’m impressed with the current list of folk she’s been working with. Word has it she’s also clocked up studio time with The Stereotypes – the production team behind Danity Kane’s ‘Damaged’.
It really seems as if The Oprah Winfrey Show is set for one hell of a season. As well as the much hyped Whitney Houston interview, it has today been confirmed that the talk-show queen will dedicate an entire show to the late, great King of Pop Michael Jackson on September 16th. Mariah Carey will also be taping an episode of the show this month (September 18th). {Source 1}{Source 2}
I’m definitely itching to see the MJ episode, according to her site the show will feature never before seen outtakes from her famed interview with him in 1993. What’s more -despite Michael’s standing as one of the most prominent and influential African Americans to have lived – Ms. Winfrey has yet to publically acknowledge his death. Hence, her slant on the whole situation should be very interesting to see.
As for Mariah, I’m guessing it will be light-hearted chitter-chatter and album promo, which I’m sure means performances and all that good stuff we just love to talk about here at your favourite site and mine – That Grape Juice lol.
Word has it Oprah’s much hyped interview with Whitney Houston is one of the talk-show host’s best yet. Watching this and seeing Oprah herself filled with tears at one point really drives this home. I know where I’ll be come September 14th and 15th. You?
Tidbit:Sources including Billboard and Hits Daily Double are reporting that ‘I Look To You’ is set to debut at #1 with sales in the region of 275, ooo – 300, 000 in its first week. A massive achievement for an album with no accompanying music videos or many promo spots. With Oprah the week after next and the Melina directed videos for singles ‘Million Dollar Bill’ and ‘I Look To You’ set to premiere any day now, it looks as if maybe Arista may just have an a proper strategy in place to ensure the album has legs.
With Diddy’s ‘Last Train To Paris’ LP set for release later this year, the album’s lead single ‘Love Comes Down’ featuring Dirty Money (himself, Dawn Richard and Kaleena) surfaced yesterday (but kinda went overhead). Put simply, I’m on the fence with this one – haven’t ascertained whether it’s ‘good’ different or hot mess ‘different’. Take a listen for yourself and let us know what you think…
The big moment finally arrived for Whitney Houston’s masses of fans around the world today, as her big comeback performance as part of Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series aired today in the US on ABC. Prior to reading our take on what went down, peep the performances below of new single ‘Million Dollar Bill’, ‘My Love Is Your Love’, ‘I Look To You’ and the classic ‘I’M Every Woman’:
Regular readers of That Grape Juice will know just how genuinely excited we are about Whitney’s comeback. However in staying true to our stance on not sugarcoating ish, this was not Whitney’s best performance…not by a long shot. Clearly hoarse and exhausted, her vocals did little to alleviate the murmurings about her voice being at worst ‘shot’ and at best ‘only good in the studio’. Though she sounded better on the first two songs ‘Bill’ and ‘My Love Is Your Love’, I’d be inclined to agree with the latter, which – believe it or not – I feel is ok for Whitney considering all she has been through.
In so much as saying that then, the off-the-charts energy the stunning looking Whitney exuded (along with crowd) really drove home the message about this being about much more than a debate about whether or not her vocals are still as great as they once were, it’s about the emancipation of Whitney, the human being. Something, which after watching this and seeing how happy and radiant she looked, I feel should be celebrated. At this junction, and in Whitney’s best interest, I’d be more than glad to have more in the way of new albums, music videos and the occasional ‘big performances’, over touring and quite frankly any avenues for embarrassment. As hard a fact it is for some to digest, Whitney’s voice isn’t as it once was, so should be rested and honed to be the best it can possibly be.
A few additional points:
* With the concert being pre-recorded, the editors over at Good Morning America did a great job of editing the audio on ‘Million Dollar Bill’ and ‘I Look To You’ LOL (this I know having taken a look see at the fan recordings from yesterday). Shhh don’t tell anyone though!
* I spat out my tea (yes, how English lol) at ‘I got my baby, me and Bobby’s baby’. Loved it!
* Whitney broke down in tears while starting to sing ‘I Look To You’ to her mother, Cissy Houston, God and her fans. Very emotional moment.
* After performing the song, she actually apologised for the roughness of her vocals, revealing that she had filmed her much hyped Oprah interview the day before. She added that she spoke to the chat show legend for more than 3 hours.
In being fair, Ms Mariah didn’t get cut much slack for her ‘I was too emotional’ excuse at the Michael Jackson memorial, so unfortunately neither does/should/will Whitney. Whoever handles her scheduling needs to fix up, for as much as I wanted to steer away from saying this, 2009 Whitney is not Beyonce. Now before the stans tear me to shreds, I mean this in that Beyonce next to never falters on the vocal tip, despite performing like a machine day in and day out – due largely, I’m sure, in part to her age and the fact she hasn’t been through what Whitney has. Whitney on the other hand, and this is no secret, needs to rest her voice – especially considering the ‘changed’ nature of it at this point.
* With the Oprah interview interview being so long (unplanned), the interview will now air over 2 days – 14th and 15 September – both of which being full hour episodes! According to insiders, Whitney talked everything from her drug addiction to Bobby Brown and just about everything else we’ve been curious to hear her speak on. Commercials running for the interview, make it look like it’ll be a tear-jerker. Can’t wait.
Check out this pic and below a video of X Factor winner Alexandra Burke on the set of the Anthony Mandler directed video for ‘Bad Boys’ – the lead single from her debut LP (due November). Judging by this clip of the vid, which was shot in LA last week, I can tell I’m gonna like this one – despite not being sold on the song yet:
If that’s my girl in the middle in that clip, she was really getting it with that choreography. Good stuff.
Loose-tongued rapper Kanye West features on the cover of the latest issue of French magazine ‘Liberation Next’. Having clearly been working out, it seems the ‘Love Lockdown’ star is looking to show it off.
You know the deal; That Grape Juice, once again, wants to see what you all are listening to. Which 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to Urban music; could be something new, Throwback, religious, even something you made yourself LOL. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are – in no particular order:
