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

Beyonce Performs ‘Diva’ At Jay-Z Concert

12th Sep

Beyonce was among the many artists in the house last night at husband Jay-Z’s ‘Answer The Call’ 9/11 charity concert in New York. The 28 year old superstar surprised viewers with a performance of ‘Diva’. Put simply, Ms. Knowles-Carter did the damn thing; she actually killed it. Watching this kinda had me a little irritated at the fact she hasn’t performed this live anywhere other than on tour. As not the biggest fan of the song, Bouncy, as usual in such cases, manages to sell it like her life depended on it, with her stellar live performances. Hate it or love it, she really is the ‘baddest chick in the game’…

What do you think of the performance?

Jay-Z’s ‘Answer The Call’ Concert Performances

12th Sep

Jay-Z’s much-hyped ‘Answer The Call’ 9/11 charity concert took place in New York’s Madison Square Garden last night (and aired on FUSE). A host of fellow artists joined the rapper, whose Blueprint 3 LP aptly dropped this week, including Rihanna, Kanye West, Kid Kudi and John Mayer. Check out the performances below:

Run This Town / Can’t Tell Me Nothing (w/ Rihanna & Kanye)

Already Home, Heart of the City, D.O.A (w/ Kid Kudi & John Mayer)

Young Forever & Medley (/ Memphis Bleek + Diddy Shows Up)

Can’t Knock The Hustle (w/ Mary J. Blige)

Empire State of Mind

I really enjoyed all the performances, though I must say Ms. Fenty did remind me why she doesn’t get my support with her live performing (no stage presence+annoying yoodling+no believe’ablity=not hot).

What do you think of the performances?

New Song: Toni Braxton – ”Yesterday

11th Sep

The lead single from Toni Braxton’s Atlantic Records debut (‘Pulse’), premiered today. Produced by DJ Frank E, ‘Yesterday’ is an epic ballad, which effectively manages to stay true to Toni’s appeal (i.e. a vocalist rather than one trying to compete with the R&B chicks of today), while also encapsulating enough contemporary R&B/Pop elements to make this chartable in this day and age. I can’t say this is rocking my world, but a solid effort nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what Ms. Braxton serves up with the rest of her new album, which is set to hit stores February 2010.

Hit or Miss?

Confirmed: Christina Milian & The Dream Are Married & Expecting 1st Child

11th Sep

The rumours are apparently true; according to US Magazine, Christina Milian and The-Dream are OFFICIALLY married – and expecting their first child:

Christina Milian is pregnant with her first child, Usmagazine.com has confirmed.
The singer, 27, wed music producer The-Dream, 27, on Sept. 4 at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Us first reported their engagement two months ago.
“The pregnancy was a surprise, but they were getting married regardless,” a source tells Us.
Milian has already been talking about children.
“Of course, I would love to have kids,” she told Us earlier this summer at the premiere of Bring It On: Fight to the Finish in NYC. “I think that’s some of the reasons why I do movies like this.”
Even The-Dream (real name: Terius Hagert Youngdell Nash) — who proposed to Milian with a six-carat sparkler from Ivanka Trump’s jewelry line — has been talking about a family.
“I love kids, and [Christina] loves kids probably more than I do,” he told Us in July. “She’ll make that time [to have a baby]. In the next couple of years, there’ll be something around.”

Wow. Not sure what to think of this. Errr….congratulations?

Randomness: The-Dream already has 3 kids with R&B singer Nivea – his ex-wife.

Your thoughts?

1 Comment

Official: BET Picks Up ‘The Game’

11th Sep

After being dropped off the CW schedule earlier this year, despite a petition signed by a million, popular US comedy-drama The Game has been picked up by BET, as confirmed by one of the show’s producers Matthew Cherry on Twitter:

@Director_Cherry CBS Paramount and BET have reached a deal with the canceled CW Series The Game.
less than a minute ago from web
@Director_Cherry The first hurdle has been crossed for new epsiodes of the show to be produced for BET. Now actor and producer contracts must be worked out.
half a minute ago from web
# There are still a lot of particulars that need to be worked out but CBS Paramount has agreed to license the show to BET.
# If everything continues to work out then new episodes of The Game will likely air in the fall of 2010 on BET.6 minutes ago from web {Source}

Believe it or not, I have never seen an episode of this show, despite its worldwide popularity – thanks to Youtube. It’s quite rare a cancelled show is recommisioned for new epsiodes on another network, so it’s definitely a great development for the fans of the show.

Your thoughts?

Exclusive: Kelly Rowland Hits Studio With Dupri

11th Sep

As Kelly Rowland continues to work hard away at her 3rd solo LP, we can exclusively reveal that hitmaker Jermaine Dupri can be added to list of producers working on the as-yet-untitled project. Dupri joins Jim Jonsin (‘Sweet Dreams’), Adonis (‘My Boo’, ‘I Stay In Love’, ‘Too Grown For That’), David Guetta, Brian Kennedy (‘Disturbia’) and The Stereotypes (‘Damaged’) as a fellow contributor on the record. Late 2009, early 2010 is the reported release window for the album. You know where to get your Kelly fix!

Kelly really is spreading her wings and I’m loving it! JD is quite versatile as a producer, so I’m eager to see what he serves up for Kelly. With her desire for this record to be a Dance-meets-R&B uptempo affair, I’m hoping we get something in the vein of Janet’s ‘So Excited’ or more plausibly ‘Rock With U’ from the pair’s creative union. Exciting stuff.

Your thoughts?

That Grape Juice VMA Coverage

11th Sep

As with last year’s show, That Grape Juice will be providing live on-the-minute coverage of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards which take place this Sunday (September 13th) live from the Radio City Music Hall in New York. News, commentary and of course performances, That Grape Juice will be the spot for them all!

Things have been, somewhat, streamlined from previous years and will consist of two main post areas:

* ‘Your Shout!’: Here you’ll be able to express your thoughts on everything VMA related i.e. pre-show ish, rumours, spoliers and of course the actual show as it’s taking place. Anything and everything goes; randomness, observations, views etc. I’ll be dipping in and out of this one myself, as I too will be watching live (UK and non-US folks will have to hit up That Grape Juice on the day for the online link lol)

* Performances: All the show’s performances minutes (it’s hoped lol) after they’ve aired. Visitors around the time of last year’s show will know what I mean 🙂

So for ‘net’s most thorough live coverage of one of music’s biggest dates on the calender, do be sure to keep it locked on ThatGrapeJuice.net!

Your thoughts / suggestions?

That Grape Juice Announcement (Very Important!)

11th Sep

Many thanks to you guys for baring with us with the recent slower pace of things here at your favourite site and mine!

We’ve been very busy behind the scenes over the last few weeks putting the final touches to our new WordPress based site. Don’t fret, all of our posts, your comments and all that good stuff will be making the move with us from this current Blogger incarnation of That Grape Juice. Above all, the site will still remain www.thatgrapejuice.net.

However next Tuesday, September 15th (please do make note of the date), we’ll be moving to a temporary site for approximately 1 week, while the ‘new site’ is installed on this address (www.thatgrapejuice.net). So, from September 15th, the fun moves over to:

www.tgj2.blogspot.com

Please bookmark this temporary address, which officially goes live September 15th (next Tuesday)! You can click it now to have a look-see at the site, which looks exactly like this one – so you’ll feel right at home!

See you there next Tuesday!

Tidbit: Those who have been shortlisted to be new bloggers here at That Grape Juice should be hearing from me very soon.

Whitney Houston – ‘I Look To You’ Video

11th Sep

As we reported EXCLUSIVELY last week, Whitney Houston’s video for new single ‘I Look To You’ premiered as planned today. Said to be directed by Melina, the simple, concept-based clip really captures the essence of the message at the heart of the song. I would be lying, however, if I said I wasn’t just a tad bored…as ol’ Nippy is…erm…pretty much doing the same thing throughout the video.

That said, I guess no harm is done. With her comeback campaign off to a great start (album debuting at #1 with sales in excess of 300, 000), I can see this, along with the forthcoming ‘Million Dollar Bill’ video (16th September) and her much hyped Oprah interview, only adding to what is looking to be one of the most spectacular comebacks in recent music history. Go Nippy!

What do you think about the video?

Keri Hilson – ‘Slow Dance’ Video

11th Sep

The video for Keri Hilson’s latest single ‘Slow Dance’ premiered today. Directed by Chris Robinson, the clip features many a recognisable face, including Chris Brown, Monica, Melody from the Pussycat Dolls, and producer Polow Da Don.

I must say I’m really liking this one; the vid has a very 90’s throwback feel to it (an era I view as R&B’s golden-age), which the song is very befitting to. No, nothing spectacular, yet something that should hopefully allow the success this talented singer-songwriter is currently having to continue.

Tidbit: While Keri looked hot, I couldn’t help but crack up at her playing with the tail of that (how do I put it nicely) ‘interesting’ weave. LMAO.

What do you think of the video?

Preview Mariah’s ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’

10th Sep

You can now preview the whole of Mariah Carey’s ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ LP courtesy of Amazon Germany.

Gasp…I’m actually liking the sound of this. Why she opted to release ‘Obsessed’, when the album itself seems packed full of quality sounding tracks, is so far beyond me it’s a joke. That said, I’m looking forward to this one…

Click here to preview to ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’

Hit or Miss?