As Whitney Houston continues to ready her as-yet-untitled ‘comeback’ effort for a September 1st release (August 31st – UK), more details about the LP has surfaced via Showbiz 411 columnist Roger Friedman:

I told you earlier this week that Whitney’s album was done, and would be released by the Grammy deadline cut off of August 31, 2009.

Well, yesterday Arista Records confirmed it. There’s one weird hitch: the album will go on September 1st, one day after the deadline. I know, it doesn’t make any sense. Maybe it’s a shipping thing, and the Grammys will allow a 24 hour grace period.

More importantly, here’s some news: Alicia Keys wrote and produced a track on the album for Whitney. Houston has been “working” Alicia for a couple of years, and it finally happened. The track is also produced by Alicia’s reported current love interest, the producer Swizz Beatz. (His real name is Kasseem Dean, by the way.)

There are tracks on Whitney’s album from Diane Warren, Stargate, and other top producers of the day. But the first single is set to be a David Foster production.

And yes, the track that was leaked last year with Akon, “Like I Never Left,” will be included in its finished form.

I am told, also, that the album is a combination of big, sweeping ballads and 80s dance music like Houston’s trademark hit, “How Will I Know” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

So it looks like we will have new albums from Whitney and Mariah at the same time after all. It’s a flashback battle of the divas, circa 1994. Bring it on! {Source}

The Swizzy and Alicia production collabo sounds real interesting. As pertains the Akon collabo ‘Like I Never Left’, the song grew on me considerably after first hearing it; the airy, laidback nature of it feels apt for the impending summer period ahead. That said, I’m gonna need the final version of the song to see Nippy batting it out of the park with the vocals, because, the end aside, she was talking through most of the track. In any case, roll on September 1st, roll on!

After a lengthy spell on the bench, That Grape Juice’s ‘From The Vault’ feature is back! This week’s classic video is Destiny’s Child 2007 reuniting at the BET Awards. Having at the time spent several years out of the limelight as a group, Michelle, Kelly and Beyonce took to the stage during Bey and Kelly’s joint performance of ‘Get Me Bodied’ and ‘Like This’. Check out the performance below:

Hey the TGJ faithful! Hope all is good good with you all 🙂 Just a few quick points:

* New Staff: Many thanks to all those that expressed interested in the new positions here at That Grape Juice. I was quite taken about by the amount of applications received (thank you again!), so I am still ploughing through them all. I’ll have something more concrete to announce in the way of that in the coming weeks and month.

* That Grape Juice E-Street Team: I’ve been looking to roll this one out for a while now, with the present being the most apt. Are you a That Grape Juice addict? Do you tell anyone who will listen about what’s going down here at That Grape Juice?! If so, we’re looking for you! I’m looking to assemble a team of promoters who will form the ‘That Grape Juice E-Street Team’.

What does this entail? The ideal team member will promote That Grape Juice in both the internet sphere (forums, email blast-outs, Facebook, Twitter etc) as well as in the ‘real world’, with leaflets, posters (please believe I already have these printed to supply and oft go flyering myself – hustle LOL), as well as word of mouth etc. There will be monthly incentives and prizes for those who perform best. If you’re interested, do be sure to drop me an email at: sam@thatgrapejuice.net

* Graphic designers: Are you a Photoshop wiz? Do you consider yourself a pro on everyone’s favourite software? If so, we’re looking for you! I’m needing assistance in that department for a few site-related projects. So…if you feel you’re up to scratch (please see site banner for type of standard I’m talking about), please drop me an email with an attachment of some of your work to: sam@thatgrapejuice.net . *Not a paid job, but plenty of exposure!!! LOL*

* Send It In: Have any juicy stories, music, tidbits etc you wish to pass along? Please feel free to keep ’em coming. It’s always most appreciated, and, as ever, full credit is given.

* Upcoming interviews and competitions: We have lined up an interview with a certain R&B star who is riding high on the charts both in the US and UK at present. Meanwhile, we’ll be running a competition centered on a huge feature star in her latest video. Sounds like babble? All will be unravelled in the coming week and weeks….stay tuned!

Reports surfaced yesterday suggesting that R&B star Usher has filed for divorce from wife of 2 years Tameka Foster. Today, the speculation was confirmed, with the court divorce filing hitting the net also. Peep the report and the filing below:

ATLANTA (AP) — R&B singer Usher filed for divorce Friday from Tameka Foster Raymond, less than two years after their glitzy wedding at a Georgia resort.

The 30-year-old Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is Usher Raymond IV, filed the petition in Superior Court in Atlanta. Records posted to the court’s Web site did not give any details about the split between the R&B star and his wife, who were married in August 2007.

About 200 people attended the wedding between the two at resort built in the style of a 16th-century-style French chateau on 3,500 hilly acres outside Atlanta.

They have two young sons, 1 1/2-year-old Usher Raymond V and 6-month-old Naviyd Ely Raymond. His wife has three children from a previous marriage.

E-mail and telephone messages to Usher’s publicist were not immediately returned.

In a May 2008 interview with The Associated Press, Usher addressed negative feedback from bloggers over his relationship with his wife, who’s 8 years older than him and was once his stylist.

“People are so attracted to drama. That’s easier to take than a story of righteousness,” Usher said at the time.

“I decided to marry this woman, then I decide to be a father to my child,” he said. “… It’s not like I got caught with a gram of coke in my car or speeding or was caught for murder, so why would I be ridiculed, that’s why I don’t understand – that’s the part that is mind boggling. Why would I be ridiculed for that, even a year later.”

Prior to the marriage, Usher had a string of public romances, most notably his three-year relationship with Chilli from TLC. {Source}

Another one bites the dust. Sad. I see a lot of folk rejoicing and suggesting Usher’s career will hit sky high because of this, yet since when should someone else’s sadness or heartbreak be a good thing in the eyes of others?

Check out Usher’s court filing for the divorce below:

You know the deal; That Grape Juice, once again, wants to see what you all are listening to. Which 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to Urban music; could be something new, Throwback, religious, even something you made yourself LOL. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are – in no particular order:

Speculation has been mounting for several months over the relationship status of Usher and wife Tameka Foster. Well it appears the rumours have been validated, with the R&B superstar reportedly filing for divorce from his stylist wife today:

Damn. While it’s never a good thing to see a once-happy couple divorce, this must surely be leaving Usher feeling kinda embarrassed, After all the defensive rants and raves. Here’s hoping they both act responsibly in the midst of this all for the sake of their kids.

Ousted ex-Girlicious member Tiffanie took to Youtube today to clear up the rumours and speculation surrounding her place in the group. Unsurprisingly she confirmed that she is no longer with the group; however her reasons make for a really interesting watch and kinda emphasise how shady the industry can be at times. Clearly the most talented in the group, Tiffanie deserves her shine IMO, hopefully this isn’t the last we hear from her.

In other Girlicious news, while still under the Universal Records umbrella, the girls have been moved from Geffen Records to Interscope.

Irv Gotti’s INC ship seems to continue its descent, with R&B singer Lloyd announcing that he has too left the once dominant label:

Ouch. It really goes to show how you can be the hotness one minute and no one wants to touch you with a barge pole the next; The INC are seeing all their talent flock elsewhere, yet no good new talent are taking their place. About Lloyd himself, I feel as though we’ve yet to see the best of what he has to offer. Here’s hoping the future is bright for him.

Rap star Kanye West stopped by The View yesterday, to talk about a host of things. He also confirmed that he will be going on a joint tour with Lady GaGa! Peep the interview above.