*Apologies for the slow-go this weekend folks. Rest assure, many a good thing are being cooked up ‘backstage’!*

As R&B star Monica readies her brand new album for release later this year, the set’s supposed first single has surfaced. ‘One In A Lifetime’ is a mid-tempo number with a ‘knock’. Put simply, it’s everything Ms. Arnold needs to begin to re-state her claim as one of R&B’s premiere forces; the cut is fresh and contemporary, yet it doesn’t see Monica’s impassioned vocal delivery diluted by the production. I like…I like a lot. Good stuff.
Hit or Miss?

Check out this preview of Ciara’s hotly anticipated ‘Love Sex Magic’ video, which features Justin Timberlake. The Diane Martell directed clip looks great. Expect the full vid to drop anytime now…
Your thoughts?

R&B star LeToya stopped by BET’s 106 & Park this week to premiere her new video ‘Not Anymore’, as well as talk about her Lady L boutique and of course her ‘Lady Love’ record. She came across, as ever, very well.
I’m really anxious to her what her material will be sounding like this go-round. Roll on May…
Your thoughts?

With the release of Keri Hilson’s ‘In A Perfect World’ LP drawing nearer, the singer-songwriter is currently doing the promotional rounds; yesterday, she stopped by Hot 93.7’s Jenny Boom Boom show. The shock jock didn’t spare Keri with her questions, putting a number of pressing topics to her including the much-talked about ‘diss record’ (argued to be about Ciara and Beyonce), the album’s several push-backs, as well as asking about a rumored relationship with Lil’ Wayne (???!!!). An interesting watch…(Part 1 above and part 2 below):

Your thoughts?
Follow That Grape Juice On Twitter!As some of you may know, we announced last week that you can now follow That Grape Juice on Twitter! Adding to the ever-expanding ways to be apart of the That Grape Juice community, our Twitter page will allow you to receive up-to-the-minute updates about the latest posts on the site as well as what’s happening in the Urban Pop Culture world more generally.
What’s more, you’ll be able to keep up with me, ‘Sam’, while I’m on-the-go. I’ll be making use of Twitter’s cool SMS feature which allows me to let you guys know what I’m up to via my mobile/cell. That mean everything from checking in with you guys while on location at an artist interview to complete randomness from the wackiness that is ‘my world’. So what are you waiting for…

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Many thanks to all of you who have bared with us as regards the Danity Kane (Dawn and D. Woods) interviews. You will be pleased to know that they will both be up tomorrow! Keep it locked on That Grape Juice!
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The Pussycat Dolls, who are currently on tour with Britney Spears, stopped by MuchOnDemand in Toronto, Canada to perform two cuts from their sophomore LP ‘Doll Domination’ – ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘I Hate This Part’. Peep the performances below:

I can’t say the ‘Dolls serve up much of substance these days – something evidently a factor in their less than impressive record sales of the ‘Doll Domination’ LP. Speaking of which, it’s been confirmed that the album will be re-released as ‘Doll Domination 2.0’ in April and will feature new cuts, with production by Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins.
Hmm…Crappy material aside, the actual formula of the group just feels off (Nicole and the backing dancers); people simply aren’t buying into it anymore. I say give Ms. Melody something other than random riffs and runs and they may just re-spark mass interest in themselves again. SMH…
Your thoughts?
Kanye Charged Over Paparazzi ScuffleRapper Kanye West is facing up to 30 months in jail after being charged for a scuffle he had with a paparazzo last year:
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Superstar US rapper Kanye West has been charged with assault, theft and vandalism related to a September 2008 incident involving paparazzi at Los Angeles’ LAX airport, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Grammy-award-winning musician could face up to 30 months in prison.
West was arrested on September 11 after the airport altercation in which West and his manager Don Crawley “confronted, and engaged in an altercation with, two photographers,” the LA attorney’s office said in a statement.
Crawley, 33, was also charged on two counts of battery, two counts of theft and two counts of vandalism, and faces a possible five years in prison.
The incident was caught on video tape, widely viewed on the Internet, which shows West and Crawley wrestling camera equipment from photographers and smashing it on the ground.
The two men are set for arraignment in Los Angeles on April 14.
The incident took place early in the morning as West prepared to board an airplane, while paparazzi tried to photograph and film him.
Reports at the time found the camera equipment was valued at over 10,000 dollars. Police arrested West as he tried to board his plane. {Source}
It’s well known the paparazzi can get out of hand, yet it’s still no excuse to lash out with violence. Kanye should know it all comes with the territory and no one is above the law. I can’t see much coming from this, though…
Your thoughts?
New Ciara Pics
Peep the Ciara on the set of the video for ‘Love Sex Magic’, her funkified collabo with Justin Timberlake. The hot below is a promo shot for the release too. CiCi’s looking g-o-o-d!
New Ciara Pics

What do you think of the pics?

The-Dream and the latest signee to his Radio Killa imprint, Christina Milian, stopped by Big Boy’s Neighborhood radio show this week to discuss their ‘business relationship’, Milian’s new LP ‘Elope’ and much more.
These two really did little to dispel the rumors that they are an item LOL…
Tidbit: The-Dream’s ‘Love vs Money’ album is set to debut at #2 on the Billboard 200, with sales in the region of 150, 000. Not bad at all.
Your thoughts?
Alexandra To Work With Akon, Pharrell
When X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke signed a $3 Million US deal with Epic last month, it quickly became apparent that a ‘worldwide superstar’ is what label honchos are anticipating the 20 year old become. Therefore it comes as little surprise that some of the US biggest hitmakers have been drafted in for Burke’s debut LP (due November), in the form of Akon and Pharrell Williams:

Akon, super producer and international rapper has signed up to help produce Alexandra Burke’s debut album.

Only yesterday it was reported that Miss Burke would also be working alongside none other than N*E*R*D and The Neptunes front man Pharrell Williams.

Akon has already worked with Leona Lewis and told tabloid newspaper The Daily Star: “I’ve had calls to work with Alex and I’m going to do it. I love the X Factor and I love helping to break new artists.”

The newspaper claims that Alexandra is over the moon about working with Skateboard P “She can’t believe her luck. She’s a massive fan and thinks Pharrell will help her distance herself from Leona (Lewis) comparisons.”

With Pharrell onboard as well, the record label are basically making sure that Burke’s debut album is an international hit. {Source}

I’m definitely anticipating Alexandra’s debut. Her all-rounder nature has me genuinely excited as to what she and the enlisted producers will come up with.
Your thoughts?
50 Cent To Release 2 New Albums This Year
MTV caught up with rapper 50 Cent recently, with the G-Unit general exclusively revealing that he is readying not one, but two album’s for release this year:

“What they don’t know … the new announcement is that I’m dropping two albums,” Fif smiled. “I’ve had an opportunity to record since I thought I was releasing an album in December. But the portion of my record that I recorded with Dr. Dre was incomplete, because there was no opportunity to mix it. The only song that was mixed that I worked on with Dr. Dre is ‘I Get It In’ — that one is out now. It’s cool, but I need the rest of them to be mixed before I can present my project to the public.”

Fif projects Before I Self Destruct will drop in June, after Eminem’s Relapse hits stores on May 19 — and 50’s second album will come one month after Em’s second album, according to the current game plan.

With 50’s relevance in today’s Hip-Hop world dwindling at a rapid rate, I’m itching to see how well these records perform. Ol’ Curtis couldn’t catch a hit with any of his recently released material (See: ‘I Get It In’)and yet still feels 2 albums are gonna do something. I guess time will tell, but I can’t say it’s looking good.

Randomness: What happened to Ja Rule’s ‘comeback’?

Any thoughts?

R&B singer LeToya has hit the promotional trail for her new single ‘Not Anymore’ and LP ‘Lady Love’, most recently stopping by San Antonio’s 95.5’s The Beat radio station. As well has her latest project, Ms. Luckett spoke on her 1st record, as well as giving her hilarious, yet very insightful perspective on the Chris Brown / Rihanna drama. Peep part 1 above and part 2 below:

Your thoughts?
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