Jermaine Dupri has once again given the masses an insiders look at Janet’s already-acclaimed ‘Rock Witchu Tour’, this time documenting the show’s opening night in Vancouver yesterday. Check it out:

The more footage I see of the tour, the more I’m hoping for a European leg/or set of dates. Word has it, Ms. Jackson may be hitting this side of the pond (Europe basically lol) early 2009. Watch this space…

Any thoughts?

Continuing along the promo trail for her sophomore effort ‘Sol-Angel & The Hadley Street Dreams’, Solange stopped by the Jimmy Kimmel Live show yesterday. She was interviewed and spoke on the Beyonce comparisons, ‘that’ Fox News interview and more. Peep her performance of ‘I Decided’ below:

Both the Knowles ladies definitely know how to work a stage, as Solange shows here. Great performance.

Your thoughts?

Kanye West Arrested At AirportRapper Kanye West was arrested today after a scuffle LAX airport in Los Angeles:

Kanye West has just been arrested at LAX for felony vandalism. A still photographer was trying to take pics of Kanye at the American Airlines terminal. According to our guy on the scene, Kanye allegedly confronted the photog and smashed his camera to the ground.

Our photog then began videotaping the scene when Kanye’s assistant grabbed our camera — a struggle ensued and the assistant threw the video camera to the ground, breaking it. When Kanye realized our camera guy had videotaped the incident, he rushed our guy and yelled, “Gimme that f**king tape!”

Both Kanye and his assistant have been arrested and will be booked. {Source}

My girl Necole Bitchie summed it up when saying: “Out of all days to be flipping out at an airport, this is definitely not the best one..”

…SMH…

Your thoughts?

Diva Mariah Carey took to the stage on Canadian Idol last night. Check out her performances of ‘I’m That Chick’ as well as ‘We Belong Together’ below:

Yawn. Yes this was marginally better than that Fashion Rocks performance of ‘I’m That Chick’ from earlier this week (she actually moved this time around), but I was still left short-changed. With both performances it was wildly obvious she was lip-synching 95% of the time (though ‘We Belong Together’ was decent-ish). This for a singer who is renown for her voice. I was even thinking the other day; all this talk of Mariah getting older being the reason for her voice being near-enough shot is without any ground IMO. I mean, one need not look further than vocalists such as Patti Labelle’s and co, who way into their old age can still blow as well as they could before.

Mariah already has her name etched in history for what she once was. However, my interest in what she currently is, is fast disappearing.

Anyway, in other Mariah news, she has announced that she has ditched manager Benny Medina. Instead of functioning as her manager, Medina will serve as more of a ‘creative director’ for the singer. Mariah will now be managed by her own company Maroon Entertainment. Ineresting… {Source}.

Your thoughts?

The season premiere of the Tyra Banks Show aired yesterday, with the supermodel-turned talk show host addressing the issue of skin bleaching in the black community. Check out Tyra talking about one of the show’s guests – a woman who bleaches the skin of her 3 young children -while doing the promo rounds for the show. Check it out:

It’s such a shame that in this day and age, such closed minded notions of what beauty/good looks mean are still prevalent. SMH…

Your thoughts?

MOBO Awards 2008 Nominations That Grape Juice was on hand at the MOBO Awards 2008 Nominations Launch at the swanky Beach Blanket Babylon restaurant here in London yesterday. As I’m sure many of you know, the annual show celebrates the undeniable presence of Music of Black Origin in the contemporary music scene. The event, which was largely populated by press outlets, saw the nominations announced, as well as the show’s hosts – Mel B aka ‘Scary Spice’ and Rev Run.
Estelle leads the field with the nominations, notching up 5 noms. Check out the full list below:

BEST UK MALE

Dizzee Rascal
Jay Sean
Sway
Taio Cruz
Wiley

BEST UK FEMALE

Adele
Duffy
Estelle
Leona Lewis
M.I.A

BEST UK NEWCOMER

Bryn Christopher
Chipmunk
DJ Ironik
Skepta
T2

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Akon
Alicia Keys
Chris Brown
Jay Z
Kanye West
Mariah Carey
Mary J Blige
Ne-Yo
Rihanna
Usher

BEST REGGAE

Beenie Man
Busy Signal
Etana
Mavado
Tarrus Riley

BEST JAZZ

Courtney Pine
Guy Barker
Lizz Wright
Tony Kofi
Yolanda Brown

BEST GOSPEL

Ekklesia
GreenJade
Jahaziel
Kirk Franklin
Tye Tribbett

BEST AFRICAN ACT

9ice
Asa
D’Banj Mo Hits Allstars
Faze
Hip Hop Pantsula
Jozi
Jua Cali
Magic System
P-Square
Wahu

BEST SONG

American Boy – Estelle
Dance Wiv Me – Dizzee Rascal
Lollipop – Lil’ Wayne
Low -Flo Rida
Wearing My Rolex – Wiley

BEST R&B / SOUL

Chris Brown
Estelle
Jay Sean
Ne-Yo
Usher

BEST HIP HOP

Dizzee Rascal
Jay Z
Lil’ Wayne
Lupe Fiasco
Wiley

BEST VIDEO

Bashy – Kidulthood to Adulthood
Estelle – American Boy
Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
Tinchy Stryder – Stryderman
Will.i.am – Heartbreaker

BEST ALBUM

Alicia Keys – As I Am
Estelle – Shine
Leona Lewis – Spirit
Lil’ Wayne – The Carter III
Usher – Here I Stand

The 2008 MOBO Awards take place at Wembley Arena, London on October 15th; and will air live on BBC Three at 9pm.

Your thoughts on the nominations?

Janet Launches Rock Witchu Tour Pop superstar Janet Jackson kicked off her eagerly awaited ‘Rock Witchu Tour’ (her first in 7 years) in style yesterday at Vancouver’s GM Place.
The world renown singer, journeyed through 30 (yes, 30!) of her biggest hits, as well as material from her latest effort ‘Discipline’ during the high-octane dance-orientated show. Check out what the early reviews are saying, as well as more pics from the show below:
Vancouver Sun
Janet Jackson’s latest choreographed concert spectacle is an aggressive reminder to the world that she is a woman who has risen above fads and scandal (who can forget the famous Superbowl wardrobe malfunction?). It is a reminder that she is a trend-setter in her own right, a true diva, and a marvelous performer. {Click to read more}
The Province
She has raised her own standards, downplaying the sexual angle for a more athletic show that didn’t have a musician in sight. The emphasis was on action and dance, and seemed more natural to her. Any show following Janet Jackson into GM Place will find it difficult to match her. {Click here to read more}
The Globe & Mail
“It was satisfying: a fun, glitzy choreographed experience worthy of a woman who’s been in show business longer than most of the people in the audience have been alive. Bravo.” {Click here to read more}
Janet Launches Rock Witchu Tour Janet Launches Rock Witchu Tour Janet Launches Rock Witchu Tour
Awesome! I really see Janet silencing the naysayers and critics alike with this tour. The future for Miss Jackson is looking bright…

Your thoughts?
Russell Simmons’ famed Def Comedy Jam is heading to the UK next week for the first time. Featuring favourites from the US HBO series, namely Patrice O’Neal, Capone, Tony Roberts, Kid Capri, Russell Simmons himself and more, the show also boasts a strong UK presence in the form of Kojo – ‘The Fresh Prince of Hackney’.
That Grape Juice have teamed up with Live Nation UK to offer you the chance to attend the sold-out tour, which will be making stops in:

* Manchester: Manchester Apollo – September 16th

* Birmingham: Alexandra Theatre – September 17th

* London: Brixton Academy – September 20th

To be in with a chance of winning tickets to the tour, answer the following question correctly:


Which ‘Bad Boy’ star was a regular host of the Def Comedy Jam series?

a) Will Smith

b) Martin Lawrence

c) Gabrielle Union
Email your answer as well as your full name, age, and address to competitions@thatgrapejuice.net. Please be sure to put ‘Def Comedy Jam UK’ as the subject, as well as the date/city you wish to win tickets to. Winners will be selected randomly from all correct answers. Competition ends Sunday 14th September. Good luck!

Review up shortly (really lol)…

In the meanwhile…

What do you think of the video?

Kanye West - 'Love Lockdown' Following Kanye’s debut of new single ‘Love Lockdown’ at the VMA’s last Sunday, the studio version of the cut has surfaced. With the Chi-Town rapper not actually rapping lol, this one really requires one to open their mind to ‘get it’. I’m really liking this one all the same though. Kudos to Kanye for stepping out of the box.
‘Love Lockdown’ is the first single to be lifted from Kanye’s forthcoming LP ‘808’s and Heartbreak’, due December 16th (get them Xmas sales, Kanye!).

Hit or Miss?

{Link removed as requested}
Rihanna Lines Up 'Breaking Dishes'It seems Rihanna’s team have saved the best till last; word has it ‘Breaking Dishes’ is the official next single to be lifted from the Bajan star’s LP ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. Fans and critics alike have been calling for the song’s release ever since the album dropped back in April 2007.

Granted it’s good to see the song (definitely one of the so-so album’s best) get the single treatment, they really could have spared me alot of the nonsense they released in-between (i.e. ‘Shut Up & Drive’). What is this, single 7 or 8? I’m convinced had the right singles been released (and Ms. Fenty actually being up to the job of doing them justice live), the sales of her album would have been what one would expect at this stage (which currently stand barely past the 2million mark, despite 3 #1’s and a re-release).

Your thoughts?
The 2008 Fashion Rocks aired last night in the US. Check out the performances from the big show below (many thanks to our awesome affiliate site The Celebrity Network). That Grape Juice is on location at the 2008 MOBO Awards Nominations Launch in Central London (exciting stuff), so expect a review of the performances a bit later in the day. Keep it locked on TGJ as you would normally, as updates will still be posted. Thanks 🙂

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