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

Chris Brown Avoids Jail Time

22nd Jun

After a tumultuous 4 months, singer Chris Brown is breathing a sigh of relief today after copping a plea deal in the assault case involving former lover Rihanna. Peep the report below:

R&B star CHRIS BROWN has avoided a jail spell after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend RIHANNA.
He made the plea just hours before the former couple was due to come face to face in court in Los Angeles.
Brown, 20, was ordered to serve 180 hours community service in his home state of Virginia and told he must stay away from Rihanna.
He will also serve five years probation for felony assault, and his progress with be monitored by the court at regular intervals.
The singer was also made to enrol in a domestic violence counselling program, according to US website TMZ.com.
Shocking pics, released earlier this year, showed how Rihanna had been left beaten and bruised following a fight with her ex on the evening of the Grammy awards in February.
The Caribbean-born songstress arrived at court dressed in all black, a sign she may have been expecting the worst.
A bystander said: “It looked as if she was going to a funeral.” {Source}

While I’m sure many will hold their own opinions on this, I’ll just glad the media circus surrounding this all can begin to subside. That said, it will be real interesting to see if Chris can resurrect his career Lazarus-style, as the funeral for his career was held when that now infamous battered Rihanna pic made the global rounds.

Your thoughts?

22nd Jun

R&B star Ciara features on the cover of the Summer 2009 issue of Rap-Up magazine. She looks great!

In other Ciara news, the video for her brand new single ‘Work’ makes its world premiere here in the UK tomorrow on 4 Music at 7.00pm.

What do you think of the cover?

Lady GaGa & Black Eyed Peas Perform At Much Music Awards

22nd Jun

The Much Music Awards took place in Toronto, Canada last night, and saw performances from, among others, Lady GaGa and the Black Eyed Peas. Check out GaGa’s show-stopping performance (you’ll see why) of ‘Love Game’ and ‘Poker Face’ above, as well as the Peas’ live showing of ‘Boom Boom Pow’ below:

I really enjoyed both of these; GaGa with all her expected theatrics and wackiness still turned in a great performance, which actually sounded good this time. The exploding **** were a hilarious. BEP did their thing too, with this being one of their better live offerings of ‘Boom Boom Pow’. Good stuff.

What do you think of the performance?

Will.I.Am Assaults Perez Hilton?

22nd Jun

The net is abuzz with a story that Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am apparently assaulted celebrity blogger Perez Hilton last night in Tornonto, Canada following the Much Music Awards. Check out the two very different accounts of what went down below:

Perez Hilton has reportedly been attacked by Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am and his security.
The internet blogger alleges that he was assaulted by will.i.am, real name William J. Adams, after the MuchMusic awards in Toronto last night.
“I’m in shock. I need the police ASAP. Please come to the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel now. Please,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I was assaulted by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and his security guards. I am bleeding. Please, I need to file a police report. No joke.”
Posting an update ten minutes later, he added: “Still waiting for the police. The bleeding has stopped. I need to document this. Please, can the police come to the SoHo Met Hotel.
“I spoke to my lawyer. I really need to talk to the authorities. Please come to the SoHo Met Hotel. Have called the police. Need them here.”
Police and representatives for will.i.am have yet to release a statement. {Source}

This then saw Will.I.Am give an alternate view of what occured:

will.i.am has rubbished claims that he assaulted celebrity blogger Perez Hilton in Toronto last night.
The Black Eyed Peas star admitted that the pair had an argument, but insisted that a fan turned on Hilton after he labelled will.i.am a “f*ggot”.
Speaking in a video blog, the rapper said that he approached Hilton after he “disrespected” bandmate Fergie and was subsequently subjected to a tirade of verbal abuse.
“This dude walks away, I leave, and then [Hilton] says, ‘You know that was very f*ggot of you for coming at me like that’. I said, ‘Yo dude, I was just saying keep our name out of your mouth if you’re going to be disrespectful’,” he said.
“This dude says in front of a whole bunch of people and fans in Canada, ‘You’re a f*ggot, will.i.am’. Right, I’m like, ‘Wow dude, whatever’.
“He walks away and then one of the fans goes a little crazy and like starts some stuff with Perez Hilton. I’m sitting minding my own business waiting for a car, but it goes to show you how crazy things can get. It’s not that serious, it’s all music and opinions.
“People make a career from opinions, which is cool, but don’t be disrespectful about it. And fans don’t get all crazy about it. That’s all I got to say today. Tonight was a good night but it ended quite crazy.” {Source}

Can you say drama, drama, drama! I guess only they know the reality of what really went down, however I must say it looks overly suspect that Perez is there Twitter-ring away when he’s supposedly been “assaulted”. I mean come on now…it’s like getting mugged in the street and whipping out your Blackberry to Twitter ‘Sweet Minty Jesus, I’ve just been mugged!’ Either the utmost of stupidity or attention whoring. My gut tells me it’s a little of both…

Your thoughts?

22nd Jun

Kelly Rowland Hits #1

Kelly Rowland’s star is shining brighter than ever these days, the former Destiny’s Child star is carving out quite the successful solo career, scoring her 2nd UK #1 (solo) this week with her collaboration with David Guetta ‘When Love Takes Over’. After a couple of false-starts, things really do seem to be on the up for this immensely talented beauty:

KELLY ROWLAND has danced her way to the top of the U.K. singles chart with nightclub smash hit WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER.
The R&B star decided to step away from her usual style of music to hook up with French DJ David Guetta on the remixed track.
And the gamble appears to have paid off as she shot straight to the top of the British release countdown.
The song topples Brit newcomer Pixie Lott’s Mama Do, who sits ahead of the third track, Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas.
Dance singer Agnes is at number four with Release Me, while Keri Hilson and Kanye West’s collaboration Knock You Down rounds out the top five. {Source}

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ecstatic for Ms. Kelly, who thoroughly deserves this. Some of you may wonder why I stan so hard for her, and I’ll tell you why: as a music lover, there is nothing more frustrating than seeing someone with so much talent and potential be overlooked in favour of vocally-challenged, non-singning singers (not saying any names…’Eh Eh Eh’ LOL). That said, there’s nothing more gratifying than seeing such talents acheive feats like hitting #1 and all that good stuff. More power to her.

In other Kelly news, check her performance of the song from last night at French music bonanza Fete De La Musique:

Great performance! Ms. Kelly definitely had her DC3 swag in effect (See: stilleto-stage running, weave flicking and all that good stuff LOL).

Your thoughts?

New Songs: Rihanna, Toni Braxton & R. Kelly

21st Jun

Reviews coming shortly. In the meanwhile, take a listen and drop your views in the comments section…

Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

1 Comment

Brandy Hits The Studio With Pharrell

21st Jun

Having completed her mini-promotional tour, which saw stops in select European cities as well as the US, Brandy is back in the studio to continue the recording of her 6th studio album. The latest to join the producers list is none other than Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes – as confirmed by Brandy herself on Twitter today. Williams joins an all-star list of writers and producers lined-up to work on the as-yet-untitled record, which includes Ne-Yo, Stargate, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart.

It appears Brandy and her team are sparing no expense when it comes to enlisting the best of the best to work on the album, following the commercial tanking of her last LP (her Epic Records debut and the criminally underrated) ‘Human’. Interestingly, the at-time-of-writing absence of past collaborators Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins and Timbaland suggests she’s looking to work with those she hasn’t worked with in the past.

As one of those who really enjoyed ‘Human’, yet understood the sad reality that such records don’t really enjoy chart success in today’s industry, I’m really salivating at the info known about this new project – top producers, more commercial sounding, yet the same high quality we’ve come to expect from Brandy. Word is we can expect the album in stores this Fall.

Your thoughts?

‘Mama I Want To Sing’ Trailer (Starring Ciara)

21st Jun

Check out the official trailer for Ciara’s new DVD movie ‘Mama I Want To Sing’, which also stars Patti Labelle, Hill Harper, and Lynn Whitfield. Say what you want about Ms. Harris, but she sounds pretty good, and her acting doesn’t look bad either. The movie STILL is without a solid release, though.

Your thoughts?

Soulja Boy: "Michael Jackson Inspired Me"

18th Jun

In a recent interview with MTV, teen rapper Soulja Boy revealed Michael Jackson to be his inspiration:

“But as far as getting my inspiration for stage performance, it has always been Michael Jackson. I remember I watched the DVD … Michael Jackson came and stood onstage for 10 minutes. They was screaming the whole 10 minutes. I actually imitated that a couple of times in my show.” {Source}

LMAO! Honestly, I mean come on now…Soulja Boy and Michael Jackson should not even be mentioned in the same sentence, much less when talking stage presence or performance.

Your thoughts?

Rihanna Lends Help To Sugababes

18th Jun

As the UK’s top girl group the Sugababes ready their US label debut on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, the ladies have revealed that none other than Rihanna has been advising them on the material for the record:

Sugababes star Keisha Buchanan says the trio have struck up a close friendship with Rihanna while recording in America.
Rihanna has become the “fourth Sugababe”.
The ‘Umbrella’ singer has been advising the British trio – who have signed a record deal with Jay-Z’s Roc-a-Fella label – while they are recording in America and has struck up such a close bond with the ‘Ugly’ stars, they have grown to regard her as part of the band.
Singer Keisha Buchanan – who makes up the group with Amelle Berrabah and Heidi Range – told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper: “We keep missing Jay-Z. Every time we’re gonna hook up he’s off partying with Diddy or someone, but Rihanna has been a huge help to us. She’s been like our fourth members, listening to all our songs and saying what she liked and what she didn’t.”
Keisha also heaped praise on new singer Cherri V, who releases her debut single ‘Until The Sun Comes Up’ next week, for her “refreshing” sound.
She added: “I’m so pleased she’s breaking through. Her sound is so refreshing.” {Source}

Interesting. I say this as it’s funny Rihanna is lending her advice on their material, when all signs point to her own material being selected for and dictated to her!! LOL. Also notable is the fact that all three members can sing circles and then some around Ms. Fenty. Not being mean, just saying…

Randomness: Just came off the phone with my friend who made a really valid point IMO. RiRi really needs to hit the studio sometime soon (or be seen to), as she’s merely a few paparrazzi shots off becoming a full-fledged socialite.

Your thoughts?

The Saturdays Perform ‘Work’ On GMTV

18th Jun

Fierce fivesome, The Saturdays, stopped by GMTV this morning to perform their stomping new single ‘Work’. While I feel the group still need a bit of polishing, I definitely enjoyed this performance; the song actually goes hard.

Tidbit: Not to take away from the group, but is anyone else already anticipating Vanessa’s (in the middle) solo project. Her voice is the business.

What do you think of the performance?