For some unknown reason, Adrienne Bailon’s contribution to this year’s ‘Confession of a Shopaholic’ soundtrack, ‘Big Spender’ went over my head. Many thanks to my friend Kwame for bringing this one to my attention, for if this isn’t audio-fiyah I don’t know what is!
Though a little lacking lyrically, the track is big, bold, swagger-heavy. Ms. Bailon rides the Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins production effortlessly, serving up with this cut one the year’s most underrated offerings. Here’s hoping her debut solo album features hotness in the vein of this. Awesome track.
The first week of X Factor 2009 audition stage aired tonight here in the UK. Check out my 2 Pence below:
{For those unfamiliar with the show; The X Factor is the UK’s version of American Idol – with a twist in that groups and over 25’s are eligible to enter. The show also birthed the career of a certain Leona Lewis, as well as Alexandra Burke}
With it seeming like just yesterday that Alexandra Burke was crowned X Factor winner, it feels kinda weird that we’re already into the next season of the ever-popular show. Starting our coverage earlier this year (at the audition stage, as opposed to the live shows), each week I will give my favourite picks from the auditions (and later the live shows, and so forth)
This week, former contestant Duane Lamonte made a return, in a bid to last the distance this go round. A somewhat comical (‘Happy Birthday’ LMAO), yet warming audition. Soulful singer Danyl also left a lasting impression. Check out their auditions below:
With the X-Factor hype at fever-pitch here in the UK today – the day the new season kicked off – what better time than the present to roll out new promotional shots for last year’s winner Alexandra Burke. (Apologies for the crappy quality, that’s all that is available at present).
Alex looks fantastic! It’s vividly clear from looking at these that there is a conscious effort on her team’s part to distinguish her from Leona – a good look IMO.
In other Alex news, she confirmed today on her Twitter page that the lead single from her as-yet-untitled album is titled ‘Bad Boys’ and will feature none other than Flo’ Rida. Although I’m a little ‘ugh’ at the Flo’Rida feature, I will reserve judgement until hearing the track.
Peep this new promotional shot of diva Whitney Houston for her comeback LP ‘I Look To You’. Putting aside the fact that her team phoned in Mariah’s Photoshop-ping clan, Ms. Houston looks stunning.
With the release of LeToya Luckett’s sophomore effort ‘Lady Love’ just days away, the singer gave the first televised performance of new single ‘She Ain’t Got’ on KTLA yesterday.
The performance itself was ‘ok’, however my biggest gripe is the lack of promotion for LeToya’s project thus far. For this to be her first televised live showing, with the album release so near by is a hot mess. This is made worse by the fact that instead of performing on BET and likewise networks and shows, she’s on KTLA (?!). I really hope Ms. Luckett’s promo picks up…fast, as she’s deserving of much better treatment.
With JoJo having already vented her frustration with her label’s handling of her ‘All I Want Is Everything’ album publicly, the singer has now taken to the courts in her battle for a release from her deal. Check out the report via TMZ:
That JoJo singer chick is finally old enough to file a lawsuit — 18 — and guess what?! She’s already picking a legal war with her record company!
In a lawsuit just filed in NYC courts, JoJo claims her record company shoved her into a musical “limbo” because they wont let her out of her contract — and they won’t let her record a new album either!
JoJo, real name Joanna Levesque, now wants a judge to force Da Family Entertainment to cut her loose — plus she wants at least $500,000 for her troubles.
More power to her! Here’s hoping she wins, gets the release and is snapped up by another major label ASAP. There is too much talent in this 18 year old for her to be left by the wayside by this sometimes shady industry.
Despite the epic fail that was their ‘Forever In A Day’ album (which was actually pretty good), Day26 continue to press ahead with the project – today releasing the video for ‘So Good’. Definitely one for the grown folk, this serves as one of their better efforts. I’m sure the ladies will love this one.
That said, Bad Boy really are keeping these boys on a recession budget with these vids. We are in a visual age, and it’s gonna take more than these samey ‘concept’ clips, in which next to nothing is happening, to garner any interest anyone beyond their fan-base – who in total don’t seem to be able to save the guys from the terrible sales they’ve been having. It’s so sad, as all four of these guys are so talented. Yet, if things don’t change with how they are handled, they’ll become casualties of the industry. Here’s hoping the latter doesn’t become a reality.
Tidbit: Does anyone else notice how unless ‘Making The Band’ is airing, you never see or hear from these guys? SMH…
R&B star Keri Hilson brought the Urban music cavalry out for the video shoot of her new single ‘Slow Dance’. On hand were Chris Brown, Monica, Polow Da Don, Omarion and Melody from the Pussycat Dolls.
I’m kinda baffled about this, as during our interview with Keri a month ago she confirmed that the video had been shot already (???). Anyway, here’s what the clip’s director Chris Robinson had to say about the video to our friends over at Rap-Up.com:
“It’s a really sexy song, but we don’t want to fall into the typical love, love, love R&B vibe with that,” he revealed. “So it’s a misdirection, so to speak. I won’t give too much away, but it starts where you think, ‘Oh, it’s about her and being sexy.’”
But things take an unexpected turn when Hilson’s friends catch her feeling herself a little too much. “She’s in her house and by herself, and you kind of think it could be serious, but the song drops out in the middle and her friends catch her being all sexy, basically like, ‘What the f**k are you doing? You are not singing by yourself.’”
The twist portrays her as a woman who doesn’t take herself too seriously. “Keri Hilson has a great personality and is a real girl. That’s what we want to get across.”
Sounds interesting. With ‘Slow Dance’ standing as my favourite Keri cut, I’m definitely looking forward to this one.
Calling all UK Michelle Williams fans! That Grape Juice are giving a lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to see Michelle perform at the J20 party at the Hoxton Bar & Grill. To be in with a chance of winning, answer the following question correctly:
In which year did Michelle join Destiny’s Child?
a) 2000
b) 1998
c) 2004
Email your answer as well as your full name, age, contact number and address tocompetitions@thatgrapejuice.net. Please be sure to put ‘Michelle Williams Comp’ as the subject. A winner will be selected randomly from all correct answers. Competition ends Sunday 23rd August.
Check out Mary J. Blige’s video for new single ‘Stronger’, which is lifted from her new album of the same name (due November) as well as from the soundtrack of basketball movie ‘More Than A Game’.
I’m still not all that sold on the song yet, although it is growing on me. However the video, though a little ‘just there’, is quite artistic, with some stunning visuals.
Former 3LW and Cheetah Girls star Adrienne Bailon is currently in the studio prepping her solo debut, which is set for release…sometime soon lol via Def Jam. The last few hours, however, have seen the surfacing of the alleged lead single from the project ‘Superbad’. Produced by D’Mile, who produced Janet’s ‘Feedback’ along with Darkchild, the cut is similar to the aforementioned in that it’s a storming uptempo, with pulsating production, and heavily layered / processed vocals.
Though no where near as memorable as la Jan’s 2008 winner, due to it’s cliched lyrics and lack of ‘epic-ness’, I’m liking this one in it’s own right. Adrienne, IMO, possess the the full-package, and could go far if handled right.
Things seem to be going from bad to worse for R&B singer Omarion. After severing ties with Epic Records last year (aka was dropped), the former B2K star signed with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money / Cash Money imprint in June – only to be let go yesterday after the leak of his lead single ‘I Get It In’:
Two months after being signed to Young Money Entertainment, Omarion has been dropped from the giant recording company. Spilling the beans about the matter is the label’s president Mack Maine on his Twitter which reveals that Omarion is fired because he has allegedly leaked his duet song with Lil Wayne.
“ATTN: Omarion is no longer Young Money … the song they leaked ft. Wayne is not official .. good luck 2 him in his future,” so Mack wrote. Shortly after that, one of Young Money’s artists Jae Millz re-tweeted Mack’s short message, apparently trying to emphasize that the news is not a rumor.
Omarion was previously signed to Epic Records before he joined Young Money Entertainment in June. He is currently working on his next studio album titled “A New Me”. Now that he is out of Young Money, it seems that the singer has to seek a new home to release the effort.
Up to date, Omarion hasn’t offered any comment concerning him being axed from Young Money. {Source}
Ouch!!! To say this is embarrassing would be an understatement. What’s more, with the nature of why O was dropped, it doesn’t bode well for his chances of being snapped up swiftly by any other label anytime soon. Never ones to kick folk while they are down though, we wish Omarion the best moving ahead. For despite his voice not really being to my taste, he is immensely talented as an all-round performer.
