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

Kanye Charged Over Paparazzi Scuffle

18th Mar

Rapper 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?

18th Mar

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!

What do you think of the pics?

The-Dream & Christina Milian On Big Boy’s Neighborhood

17th Mar

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

17th Mar

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

17th Mar

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?

LeToya Interviewed On 95.5 The Beat

17th Mar

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?

Lil’ Kim On Dancing With The Stars (Week 2)

17th Mar

Check out Lil’ Kim’s 2nd week performance on Dancing With The Stars. The rapper and dance partner Derek Hough performed a Ballroom routine, much to the pleasure of the judges. Kim really is doing her thing on the show. More power to her.

Your thoughts?

Randomness: Michael Jackson Performs ‘Billie Jean’ At 30th Anniversary Show

16th Mar

While the news of Michael Jackson’s return to the stage has largely been greeted by mass positivity, there seems to be select arms of the media, as well as the public, who seem to question whether today’s Michael can still ‘thrill’ like times of past. Though being snapped in wheelchairs and looking somewhat frail in recent years hasn’t helped his cause, MJ hasn’t actually had a wack performance or flopped on the dancing tip for folk to be so steadfast in their ‘he can’t do it’ stance.

A lot of MJ’s more recent work and performances have unfairly been overlooked for one reason or the other, yet this performance of Billie Jean at his 2001/2002 30th Anniversary special, shows that even as the Michael of today he can still deliver one hell of a performance. THIS is the Michael I’m expecting to show at the London 02 this summer. This is the Michael that I really feel will silence the naysayers. Roll on July!

Your thoughts?

Lady GaGa: "I Used To Be A Stripper"

16th Mar

One of the industry’s biggest break-out stars in recent times, Lady GaGa, spoke recently on her ‘colourful’ past as well as the inevitability of her rise to stardom:

POP sensation Lady GaGa, quite outrageous in her music videos, used to be a stripper.
“I have a strong sense of my own sexuality. I love the naked human body and I have huge body confidence,” she tells the News of the World newspaper in the UK.
“I was working in strip clubs when I was 18. Girls from my background weren’t meant to turn into someone like me.
“I come from a wealthy Italian family, went to a good school (she was at the same super-rich Manhattan Catholic girls’ school – Convent Of The Sacred Heart – as Paris Hilton). You’re meant to live with Mom and Dad until they die.
“I went against all I was brought up to be; I moved out of home, wouldn’t take any help from my parents (her internet entrepreneur dad and his business partner wife) and supported myself with waitressing jobs and stripping.
“My act was pretty wild. I’d wear black leather and dance to Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses and Faith No More. Very rock ’n’ roll.”
The woman wrote songs for Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls before deciding she wanted a taste of the limelight. She transformed herself from a brunette in braces and jeans to the bleached blonde siren.
“Some people are just born stars,” she says.
“You either have it or you haven’t, and I was definitely born one.
“Even as a kid I always had eyes on me, like bees on honey. I was always outrageous and I was always very smart.
{Source}

Interesting…

Your thoughts?

16th Mar

Kelis Flaunts Baby Bump

R&B singer Kelis hit the town with friend Damon Perruzi in the Los Angeles over the weekend. It’s the first time the heavily pregnant wife of rapper Nas has been seen since announcing that she was expecting. The couple have confirmed they are having a boy.

About the ‘look’…she’s looked better LOL…much better. She does look well though.

What do you think of the pics?

88 Keys – ‘Stay Up (Viagra) (ft. Kanye West)’ Video

16th Mar

The hilarious video for rapper 88 Keys’ single ‘Stay Up (Viagra)’, which features Kanye West, premiered today. I’m not particularly feeling the song as such, but it’s hard to deny it’s accompanying clip is funny. Good stuff.

What do you think of the song / video?