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Janet Jackson Goes Back To Work

14th Jul

According to reports, Janet Jackson has resumed filming her role in Tyler Perry’s ‘Why Did I Get Married Too?’ following the shocking death of her brother, The King of Pop Michael Jackson three weeks ago:

Janet Jackson is back at work after two traumatizing weeks, dealing with the death of her brother and King of Pop Michael Jackson.
According to co-star Malik Yoba, Jackson is on the set of Tyler’s Perry’s ‘Why Did I Get Married Too,’ the sequel to the 2007 flick ‘Why Did I Get Married’.
Speaking of Jackson’s return, Yoba, who plays her husband in the film, told fans Jackson “seems well”.
“For those of you who are curious about the state of Ms. Jackson, all seems well.”
“She’s here at work and we’ve got a couple of serious scenes to shoot today.”
Why Did I Get Married Too is slated for release Spring 2010. {Source}

Kudos to Janet for summing up the strength to return to some kind of normality. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Jackson family at this painful time.

Your thoughts?

Kelly Rowland On Today Show

13th Jul

R&B star Kelly Rowland stopped by The Today Show today to plug her Bravo reality series The Fashion Show, as well as her new single ‘When Love Takes Over’. An interesting watch.

Your thoughts?

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New Song: Shakira – ‘She-Wolf’

13th Jul

Over the weekend, Shakira’s brand new single ‘She Wolf’ made it’s much hyped debut. The single has had a killer viral campaign going on the net for the net for several weeks now. About the track itself, I’m definitely feeling the production on this Electro-Disco fusion, yet unavoidable to note is the fact that Shakira’s vocals work in some places more than others (some parts are excruciating to listen to). All in all, I’m liking this one.

Hit or Miss?

Nas: "I Don’t Make As Much $ As Kelis Thinks"

13th Jul

Nas and Kelis’ divorce seems like it’s getting messier and messier. Such a shame. Check out the latest twist in the saga, which sees Nas submitting that he simply does not make as much as Kelis is making it out he does:

Nas has fired back in his bitter divorce case with Kelis claiming he’s paid her more than she says and he makes less than she thinks.
For starters, Kelis claims Nas raked in $11 million for his album deal. Nas fired back in legal papers, “I did not receive even half that amount”… claiming it’s more like $4 mil. Nas claims his income is declining, and he’s only pulling in $147,165 a month.
As for what he spends … $71,371.96 a month, which includes $10,000 a month in clothing/hair/toiletries/personal effects.
Kelis, who is about to give birth to their child, claims Nas hasn’t paid a penny for child or spousal support since he left her. Nas, who says he wants to be “fully involved” in the parenting of their child, claims he’s agreed to pay $350 for a stroller, $450 for a baby sling and $1,598 for two cribs.
Nas thinks $5,000 a month is reasonable for child support since the kid will just be a newborn. {Source}

Believing Nas and Kelis were gonna be that one couple in the industry that managed to keep it together, I find it real unfortunate that they’ve parted and it’s all being played out so publicly.

Your thoughts?

New Song: LeToya – ‘Regret (ft. Ludacris)’

13th Jul

The full version of ‘Regret’ from LeToya Luckett’s forthcoming sophomore effort ‘Lady Love’ surfaced today, and now features none other than Ludracris. Produced by R&B crooner Tank, the mid-tempo is somewhat of a audio juxtaposition in that it manages to be both a smooth, piano driven Slow Jam, yet gritty and edgy at the same time. Luda’s verse works surprisingly well too.

Saying that, the song doesn’t really rock my world in the way I’ve heard many hyping it to. As a Toya supporter, I’m hoping the album serves up the goodies, as thus far it seems like it’s a bit hit and miss. About ‘Regret’ though…

Hit or Miss?

1 Comment

That Grape Juice On Twitter // Facebook

13th Jul

As some of you may know, we announced a few months back 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 allows 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, as well as the thousands who have already joined, will 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 means 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…

Click here to follow That Grape Juice on Twitter!

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The That Grape Juice Facebook Group launched last year, as I’m sure many of you will know. Work, school, college, home, wherever; I’m sure many of you – like myself – spend a ridiculous amount of time on Facebook. Yes, it’s ‘that’ addictive.

Why not, then, combine your daily Urban Pop Culture fix with social networking and come be a part of the rapidly growing That Grape Juice Facebook community. Along with the thousands who have already joined (thank you all!), you will be the first to get word on upcoming interviews, competitions, view exclusive pictures and much much more. The discussion board/wall will also give you the chance to interact with other ‘Grape Juice readers moreso now than ever before.

It’s an open group, so anyone can join – invite all your friends too!

Click here to join That Grape Juice On Facebook

LeToya Performs ‘She Aint Got…’ In Dallas + Slim Thug Drama

13th Jul

Hard on the grind for her ‘Lady Love’ project, LeToya Luckett performed a set in Dallas over the weekend for ‘Hip-Hop For HIV Awareness’. Peep her performance of new single ‘She Aint Got…’ above.

Good performance aside, a little underground drama popped off on the back of this one.

Notice how at the start LeToya does an acapella of previously heard new song ‘Regret’ singing: “Now you’re at the bar with 1, 2, 3. Poppin’ game, ya look so lame, without me your pimpin’ ain’t the same”. Immediately after, just before launching into ‘She Ain’t Got…’, she then says to the crowd “I know ya’ll know who I’m talking about!”. To date, LeToya’s only public romance has been with fellow Houston native Slim Thug.

Further adding fuel to the fire, Slim Thug took to his official Twitter page not long after saying: “If u a R&b singer chick fuck with me Ima make u go platinum.. Give u helluva songs torn,regret,not anymore,she ain’t got etc…gnr”.

I guess things aren’t as cool between the former couple as we’ve been led to believe. Hmmm…

Your thoughts?

From The Vault: Missy Elliott – ‘All In My Grill’

12th Jul

This week’s classic From The Vault video is Missy Elliott’s 1999 smash ‘All In My Grill’, which features her former protegee Nicole Wray. For all of Missy’s hits, this has remained a constant favourite of mine. Check it out:

Awesome song, great video! It’s hard to grasp that this was 10 years ago. Harder to grasp, however, is the fact that this visually looks a lot better than many of today’s videos. This recession really is a b*tch LOL.

Your thoughts?

New Song: Christina Milian – ‘Chameleon (ft. The-Dream)’

12th Jul

With no definitive release date for Christina Milian’s ‘Elope’ LP in sight and the star seemingly becoming more a paparazzi fixture as of late, one can not be blamed for wondering if the record will ever see the light of day. That said, after listening to the latest cut to surface from the record ‘Chameleon’, I really am anticipating the album’s release even more now. After a few false starts, Christina has been serving up straight fire with the previously heard ‘Zipper’ as well as this.

Produced, written, featuring and arranged by C-Milli’s main squeeze The-Dream, ‘Chameleon’ is a unique cut. Unlike most of today’s popular music, the vehicle driving this awesome track is the lyrical wordplay and its clever use of similes, as opposed to the production – which is best described as sparse, and reminiscent of African tribal drums.

Call it what you want, but Christina hooking up with The-Dream has been yielding nothing but the hotness as of late, so IMO it’s a good look. They need to hurry up and release the album already (as it’s finished and has been for a while, according to the pair).

Hit or Miss?

New Song: Alexandra Burke – ‘Overcome’

12th Jul

As X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke continues to ready her debut album, a new song from the as-yet-untitled set surfaced within the last few hours. ‘Overcome’ is very much ‘power ballad’ in the vein of Jordin Sparks’ criminally underrated ‘Battlefield’. Unsurprising as both songs were produced by hit maker Ryan Tedder.

The song itself; though a little predictable, in that it’s very ‘I won a singing reality show’, I’m liking this. Alex’s vocals are rich and emotive in their delivery – you believe what she’s singing, which ultimately rescues the song from being a bore.

With Alexandra having shown herself to be a very versatile performer (a great uptempo singer, as well as a balladeer), I’m itching to hear what the rest of the album will be serving up.

Hit or Miss?