..::That Grape Juice.net::..

Behind The Scenes: Whitney’s Album Shoot

8th Jun

Check out a glowing Whitney Houston posing it up for the cameras on the set of the photoshoot for her highly anticipated ‘comeback’ album (due September 1st) recently – while listening to some Michael Jackson. This year is shaping up to be a great one for the legends. Here’s to ‘real’, undeniable talent…

Your thoughts?

New Song: Amerie – ‘Dear John’

8th Jun

As Amerie readies her Def Jam debut ‘In Love & War’ for its August 11th release date, a new cut from the set has surfaced called ‘Dear John’. While the production on the midtempo ballad sounds a lot fresher and more ‘chartable’ that the album’s first single offering ‘Why R U’, I can’t help but feel that Amerie was a little out of her range vocally with this one. ‘Strained’ is word that comes to mind upon listening to this. With Ms. One Thing’s voice being an acquired taste to begin with, this isn’t the best of looks to showcase her immense talent. Here’s hoping the rest of the album delivers. In the meanwhile, I’m cranking up ‘Because I Love It’ on my iPod.

Hit or Miss?

{Link removed as requested}

Will.i.am Pulls Plug On Solo Career

8th Jun

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am is currently seeing the group achieve new feats with their latest project. However the same success was not realised for his solo project, 2007’s ‘Songs About Girls’. It appears the experience has caused the star to pull the plug on his solo career:

will.i.am has confirmed that he will not record another solo album.
The rapper, who released Songs About Girls in 2007, has revealed that he plans to concentrate all his efforts on the Black Eyed Peas, Breaking News.ie reports.
“No, I’m not doing another solo album. It’s all Peas,” the group’s frontman noted.
will.i.am also said that he thinks that the band’s latest album The E.N.D. is their best work to date.
“I’m excited about this album. It’s the best. It’s going to be hard to top this,” he added. {Source}

While I can’t say (with a straight face) that will’s solo assaults on the charts will be missed in any way (they were awful IMO), it goes to show some folk are better suited to a group set-up, rather than solo. Who else would you say falls into that category?

Your thoughts?

New Song: Jay-Z – ‘D.O.A (Death of Autotune)’

7th Jun

Check out ‘D.O.A (Death Of Autotune)’, the official street single from Jay-Z’s hotly anticipated ‘Blueprint 3’ LP.

Hit or Miss?

Ciara – ‘Work’ Video (Preview)

7th Jun

Check out short preview of the video for Ciara’s latest single ‘Work’, which was directed by Melina.

In our interview with CiCi, which you can expect to see / watch on Tuesday (maybe even before…watch this space!), she discusses the videos for her next singles, Fantasy Ride sales, her industry contemporaries and much more. You know that we ask the questions you really want answers to…so be sure to keep it locked on TGJ in the coming days for that.

Your thoughts?

Jordin Sparks – ‘Battlefield’ Video

7th Jun

The full video for Jordin Sparks’ latest single ‘Battlefield’ premiered today. While the song is hands-down a winner, the same cannot be said for its accompanying clip. It’s not that the video is poor per se; it’s more that not much of anything is going on. I’m all for concept clips, but this almost feels like a video made for the fact that the song needed one. Nonetheless, an awesome song, that I’m sure will continue to climb the charts – and rightfully so.

What do you think about the video?

7th Jun

Ciara inteview (part 2) went awesome…you’re gonna love it…it will be up quicker than you can say “Sam, the man, the Kelly Rowland stan!”

Updates resume as normal in the next few hours

Thanks!

www.twitter.com/thatgrapejuice

5th Jun

Ciara / That Grape Juice

I’m on location for our interview with Ciara. Hit up our Twitter page where I’ll be updating you via SMS/TXT.

Beyonce Covers Forbes; Earnings Double Jay-Z’s

4th Jun

Check out Beyonce on the cover of the June issue of Forbes magazine. The publication recently published their annual ‘Forbes Celebrity 100’ list, in which Beyonce came in at #4 with estimated earnings in excess of $87 within the last year (Angelina Jolie topped the ). Besides Bouncy’s album sales and tour earnings, a large proportion of this whopping figure comes from her endorsement deals with Nintendo, L’Oreal, Samantha Thavasa, Giorgio Armani fragrances, among others. {Source}

Interestingly, hubby Jay-Z slid down the list this year, sitting at #32. Turns out HOV is making roughly half of his missus. That said, while I’m sure this will get folk talking, it’s hardly unexpected. After all ‘Beyonce’ is more than an artist, she is a brand; a brand which has a major machine behind it. Nonetheless, it’s hardly a bad thing; both Bey and Jay are financially secure for life – individually, so I doubt they are loosing any sleep.

Your thoughts?

1 Comment

Whitney’s Album Finally Gets A Release Date

4th Jun

After years of waiting, Whitney Houston’s much anticipated ‘comeback’ album has finally been given a solid release date. The as-yet-untitled set is to hit stores on September 1st via Clive Davis’ J Records / Arista, according to the legend’s newly revamped official website. Word has it the record’s first single ‘I Didn’t Know My Strength’, which was penned by the highly acclaimed Diane Warren, is set to premiere very, very soon (sources say within the next few weeks). Ne-Yo, R. Kelly, and Swizz Beats are among the writers / producers slated to feature on the LP.

Besides being ecstatic at the fact Whitney is set to return, I’m more so anticipating Whitney and Mariah dropping album’s so close to one another. Mimi’s ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’ hits stores a few weeks after Whitney’s on September 18th. Put simply, two of the biggest voices in recent music history will have compared material, album sales, live performances and all that good stuff. Roll on September!

Your thoughts?

Sneak Peek: Jordin Sparks ‘Battlefield’ Video

4th Jun

Peep this short clip of the official video for Jordin Sparks’ smash-in-waiting ‘Battlefield’. The vid, as well as Jordin, looks great. I must say, as not much of a Jordin supporter in the past, she really has me with this Ryan Tedder penned cut. Great, great song.

Your thoughts?