Can’t say I’ll be checking for this one. Prior to the release of ‘Take A Bow’ (which I still think is rubbish), I questioned what the point of a re-release was in the first place. However, ‘Take A Bow’s’ #1 charting both in the US earlier this month and over here in the UK now kinda answers that.

Will you be checking for the ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ re-release?

The full version of Keri Hilson’s first official single ‘Energy’ premiered today. Some of you may remember, a snippet of the cut had been floating around a few weeks back. Having heard The Runaways produced track in its entirety, I’m a little more optimistic about Keri and her team knowing what they are doing with the project. Much of the material I’ve heard from Keri thus far appeals to me more than this, however it’s evident they are going with a radio friendly, hook-heavy, crossover cut to cater to the masses – hence broadening her appeal.

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That Grape Juice caught up with R&B songstress Tamia last month as she prepared for the start of her North American tour. During the course of our conversation, the mother of two talked, among other things, music, her role as a mother and wife, the highs and lows of being an independent artist as well as living with Multiple Sclerosis. An insightful listen, if I must so myself 🙂 Enjoy.

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Part 1

Part 2

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Click here to order tickets for Tamia’s North American tour
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Your thoughts?

Check out these pics of Nelly on the set of the video for his upcoming single ‘Stepped On My Jays, which was filmed last month. The song’s producer as well as feature artist Ciara also appear in the vid – which should be premiering anytime from now.

What do you think of the pics?

Watching this back and reminiscing on some of their other hits such as ‘Freak N You’ ‘Lately’ and ‘Cry For You’, really makes the group’s current predicament (cash strapped and drugged out) all the more unfortunate. Still, the legacy they left behind, as evidenced by the string of hits they racked up, will ensure that they will forever have a place in R&B history.

Your thoughts?

Though Usher’s much hyped new album ‘Here I Stand’ isn’t due in shops for a few more days yet, the Grammy winner is already talking about the projects re-release – revealing that a collaboration with old rival Justin Timberlake is potentially in the works. Some of you may remember, in response to a Rollingstone cover hailing Timberlake as the new King of Pop (nonsense anyway, as MJ has that title forever IMO), Usher said: “There simply is no comparison between me and Justin. He can’t even stand in the same lane as me, ever.”.

“I regret it, because he’s a great friend of mine now. I was young and didn’t know better. We were both being kids and he turned out to be a really cool guy, and we’re talking about doing something together for the repackaging of my album. If we ever worked together, though, it would be the biggest record ever.”

This talk of a re-release prior to the original album even hitting stores kinda leaves a salty taste in my mouth. After all, why not deliver the best product you can to begin with? Anyway, I’m indifferent to the idea of a Justin collabo. Not to beat on a dead horse, but the Superbowl aftermath has made for me to lose respect for Justin both artistically and as a person….

Any thoughts?

Though the video quality was pretty rubbish, I really enjoyed her performance. Obviously not her best vocal showing, however she has evidently come leaps and bounds vocally in comparison to some of her performances in the last few years. Watching this really offers hope that she may still be able to serve up the goods with her new album (due November).

What do you think of the performance?

R&B singer Brooke Valentine is making another attempt at hitting it big. For those unfamiliar with Brooke, the 23 year old first surfaced in 2005 with the smash ‘Girlfight’; after the release of her debut LP ‘Chain Letter’, shortly after, things went quiet. She was unceremoniously dropped from distributor Virgin Records (though is still signed with label Subliminal), with her sophomore effort ‘Physical Education’ being effectively shelved in the process.

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Following the uber short video that premiered for Kanye West’s ‘Flashing Lights’ a few months back, the second of, reportedly, three accompanying clips has made its debut. On the one hand, I commend Kanye for going left-field with the concept of his vids, it would help, though, if I could understand what the hell is going on in it lol.

What do you think of the video?

In a recent interview with The Guardian over here in the UK, R&B/Pop star Rihanna spoke about her ‘edgy’ image, asserting that it was her own decision to deviate from the industry norm of ‘long blonde’ hair who she identified Beyonce, Ciara, Christina Millian and Mariah as rocking:

“I felt like the whole world had long, curly, flowy blonde hair. Ciara, Beyonce, Mariah, Christina Milian. Everybody wanted to be like everybody else. So I cut my hair and they made me put my long hair back in as extensions. The second time, I didn’t have any discussions, nothing. I just cut it, I dyed it black, I went into the studio making music my way. I found myself all at once. I like things strong, edgy, a little to the left. I don’t like things that are expected – nothing cliched. When I first started, I didn’t know anything. I didn’t really have a say. The second album, I got a little more freedom”

Granted today Rihanna’s image seems pretty legit, I find her comments real hard to swallow. IMO the whole ‘I’m was good girl, now I’m bad…look at my black hair and dominatrix outfits’ was overly contrived and screamed ‘record label construct’.

Your thoughts?