Mariah & Madonna Make Chart History 2008 really does seem to be the year of the Divas; both Mariah Carey and Madonna, this week, have surpassed Elvis Presley in the Billboard chart record books.
Securing her 18th #1 with ‘Touch My Body’ – which shot #15-#1 this week, Mariah Carey now stands solely in 2nd place as the artist with the most #1’s on the chart, having been previously tied with Elvis at 17 entries. Carey’s tally is second only to The Beatles 20 chart toppers.
Meanwhile, the rocketing of Madonna’s latest effort ‘4 Minutes To Save The World’ from #68-#3 has meant the 49 year old has overtaken Presley as the artist with the most Top Ten charting singles – which now stands at 37. {Source}
Congratulations to both ladies, it really is a major achievement in each case. Something tells me Mariah may likely crank out her 19th ,and possibly 20th, chart topper from her forthcoming ‘E=MC²’ record. I guess time will tell. {Note to Janet’s people: What the hell is going on?!}

Any thoughts?
Day26 Topple Danity Kane To Hit #1
R&B five-piece Day26 have hit #1 on the Billboard 200 with their self titled debut, knocking off their Making The Band co-stars Danity Kane in the process. Bad Boy’s latest signees shifted a respectable 190,000 copies of their LP first week, besting the girls’ sales of ‘Dollhouse’ – which sits at #4 after shifting 89, 000 copies in its 2nd week. {Source}

Your thoughts?

Check out this preview of the video for Usher’s chart-topping smash ‘Love In The Club’ – the first single to be lifted from his new album ‘Here I Stand’. Rapper Kanye West, Diddy and Keri Hilson – who plays Usher’s love interest – make cameos in the clip:

Visually, while the vid looks great, I can’t help but notice the obvious similarities between this and the vid for his 2004 hit ‘Yeah’. Not sure what I’m thinking of that. Still, the choreography – which was choreographed by Jamaica – looks on-point. The video in its entirety will debut next Monday (April 7th).

Your thoughts?

Beyonce & Jay-Z To Finally Tie The Knot?PEOPLE.com are reporting that Beyonce and long-time boyfriend Jay-Z have taken out a marriage licence in Scarsdale, New York. Could it be wedding bells for music’s most-talked about couple?

According to a source, the pair took out a license on Tuesday morning. The document is valid for 60 days.

A rep for Beyoncé told PEOPLE, “No comment.” Jay-Z’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

I’d be surprised if this latest claim was actually true. After all, if I’m counting right, they’ve ‘reportedly’ tied the knot 20 times already. Saying that, after six years of dating, this wouldn’t be too far fetched either.


Your thoughts?

Following Mariah’s premiere of ‘Migrate’ during her set on ‘Saturday Night Love’ a few weeks back, the studio version of the track surfaced via Chicago’s B96 radio station yesterday. The Danja produced cut is definitely one destined for the clubs. With its hard hitting production and catchy hooks, this one has hit written all over it. As one who often has a lot to say about Mariah’s current vocal state, I really can’t fault her delivery here; she flows effortlessly over the beat and still sounds great with T-Pain’s vocoder effect. Big ballad or otherwise for the second single (‘Bye Bye’ has been confirmed), ‘Migrate’ has to be a single at some point. Good stuff. ‘E=MC²’ drops April 15th.

Hit or Miss?

90’s R&B trio Blaque are hoping to make a comeback later this year. The ladies are hoping to steer their way back into the limelight via their new reality show ‘Blaque In The House’, which will document their lives as well as the recording of their brand new album. Check out the trailer for the show below:

Granted some of the wording in the intro is highly questionable ‘…changed the face of R&B forever’ (errm…), I’m really looking forward to this. With the barrage of girl-groups that flooded the music scene in the mid-late 90’s, I definitely considered Blaque to have shown the most promise (Destiny’s Child aside). What’s more, right up to their most recent release, they continue to show a lot of artistic growth. here’s hoping things work out for the best.

Will you be checking for for Blaque’s show?

Leona Lewis - 'Forgive Me'With the US release of Leona Lewis’ debut LP ‘Spirit’ just around the corner (due April 8th), a new track from the anticipated set has surfaced. Produced and written by Akon, ‘Forgive Me’ is a funky Pop/R&B cut that sees the UK sensation embrace a much more edgier sound, as well as subject matter. Though perhaps slightly premature, I’m hoping this is the direction Leona explores more on her sophomore LP.

Hit or Miss?

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Following the debut of Michelle Williams’ great new single ‘We Break The Dawn’ yesterday, the singer kick-started her official video blog on Youtube. Thanking everyone for their support, she also discussed the video shoot for the single, as well as her new look. I’ve long felt that Michelle’s personality is very magnetic. {Thanks Angel!}

Your thoughts?

Khia Is Still Talking The self-proclaimed ‘Queen of The South’ Khia is still bitching about rival Trina and Pop superstar Janet Jackson – this time via her MySpace page:

On Trina / Lil’ Wayne:

WHAT DA HELL IS BOBBLE HEAD DOING ON DAT BITCH TRINA PAGE. CUZ ONLY A FOOL’S ALBUM WILL DROP ON APRIL FOOLS. DA JOKE IS ON ANYBODY WHO BUYS IT!!!yESSSSSSSS!!!

DIS NUT BUCKET BITCH, DONE PROMOTED NASTI MUZIK!!! SHE DONE PUT POSTERS OUT WITH THE THUG MISSES NAME ON IT. THANK U BITCH!!! SOMEBODY DONE GAVE DIS HO COURAGE JUICE. I THOUGHT SHE LEARNED FROM THE DISS RECORD. HELL…. YALL SEEN WHAT HAPPENED AFTER DAT SHE LOST HER MAN…… FROM WHOM I HAVE EVER INTENTION ON MAKING MINE…… DATS RIGHT WEEEEEEZY!!!!!YESSSSSSSSS!!! THE QUEEN HAS CHOSEN. YALL AINT SEEN HER SHE DONE LOST WEIGHT AND FROM DA LOOKS OF THANGS. THIS IS WRONG TIME FOR HER TO EVEN THINK TO PUT OUT A ALBUM. ALL I COULD THINK OF IS HOW SHE NEEDED TO CONTINUE WITH PEDIALITE AND ENSURE. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE BREAST FEED DIS BITCH? OR SHOULD I DO IT SINCE MY TITTIES LOOK LIKE DEY SLEEP!!!! OR IS IT DAT IM DA ONLY BITCH DAT CAN PRODUCE SWEET MILK. ASK WEEEEEEEZY!!!!! I LUVVVVVVVV HIM. I WANNA BE HIS LADY!!!!!!!!

YA SEE!!! DATS THE DIFFENCE BETWEEN ME AND DA BITCH TRINA!! SHE SINGLE AGAIN AND BACK ON DA PROWL. I WANNA BE WEEZY’S LADY AND HAVE HIS BABY. DA DIFFENCE BETWEEN QUEENS AND HO’S!!!!

ALL MY FANS….. LETS ALL SAY IT TOGETHER……….. THANK U TRINA FOR ALL DA PROMOTION!!!!!!

PS. MS NIVEA…… GO BACK TO YA HUSBAND…… AND QUIT CREEPIN WIT MY MAN!!!! UR A MOTHER NOW!!!!!!!

THUG MISSES “LIVE AND OUTLOUD!!!!!!!”””

On Janet:

LET’S TALK BOUT JANET!!!!!!!!!!MS. JACKSON IF U NASTI!!! BEIN A KHIA HATA. U KNOW DERS A LOT OF DEM….. LURKIN AROUND….UNDERCOVER HATIN!!! CUZ YESSSSSSSSS!!!!! DATS WHAT SHE DID. IM SICK AND TIRED WITH THEM CONFUSING DA TRUTH WIT ME TRYNA PROMOTE MY NEW ALBUM. MY FANS KNOW I DONT NEED HER TO DO SHYT TO HELP PROMOTE NO ALBUMS!!!!!

DA QUESTION WAS…… WHY WAS I ON DAT IN TV….. LOOKING LIKE A OLD ALFRED HITCHCOCK FILM!!!!!!! IN BLACK AND WHITE!!!!! TELL ME WHATS REALLY GOING ON. WHEN I LEFT DA SET THE VIDEO DIDNT LOOK LIKE DAT!!!! FURTHERMORE….. THE FULL VIDEO WAS WORLD PREMIERE WAS FEATURED ON ACCESS GRANTED. SO WHY WAS DA QUEEN EDITED OUT!!! I KNOW IT WASNT JERMAINE….. CUZ I KNOW IT WASNT JERMAINE. HE GAVE MUCH LUV AND SHOUT OUT ON DA SHOW!!!! SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM JANET!!! MS. jACKSON IS A LEGEND…….. DONT MAKE ME BURN WITH DA IRON. PENNY ON GOODTIMES.

STOP IT!!!!! ULL NEVA BE MARIAH!!!!! SHE DONT HAVE TO BE INTIMIDATED BY ME. PUTTIN ME ON DAT DAMN TV!!! SHE AT HATA. DIVAS CAN BE HATAS TOO!!!

NOWWWWWWW!!!!!MYT ADVICE TO JANET. MS. JACKSON IF U NASTI!!! STOP TRYNA TO COMPETE WITH THE LITTLE GIRLS. GO TO VEGAS AND DO SIDE SHOWS WITH CELINE DION AND MAKE REAL MONEY…….. WITH DOSE TRAMPESE CIRCUS ACTS!!!

WE ALL KNOW YO TEA SINCE DA VALET ROPE. LET IT GO JANET. IF U NASTY!!!!

THE THUGMISSES SAID DAT ON LOUD AND OUTLOUD!!!!!!!!!

No comment.

Any thoughts?

Beyonce  - 'Kick 'Em Out'Beyonce’s new material seems to be coming thick and fast. Following the hysteria that ensued upon the surfacing of ‘Beautiful Nightmare’ last week, a snippet of another recently recorded track called ‘Kick ‘Em Out’ has hit the net. I’m really feeling the song, from the production to Beyonce’s flow to everything. Judging by the material heard thus far, I’m thinking she may just deliver the album we’ve been waiting to hear from her for some time now.


Hit or Miss?

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Review in a bit…

In the meanwhile…

What do you think of the video?

This week’s edition of ‘The Best You Never Heard’ serves up tracks from the likes of Fantasia, FDM, Mashonda and the Southern Hummingbird Tweet. You can drop me your suggestions for future installments at sam@thatgrapejuice.net

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Fantasia – Two Weeks Notice

Though the success story from Fantasia’s underrated self-titled sophomore effort was undeniably ‘When I See You’, the album definitely boasted several equally as solid tracks. One of the standouts IMO is ‘Two Weeks Notice’. With its clever word-play, as well as Fantasia’s stellar vocal delivery, this stands as one of my favourite R&B songs from the last few years.

Listen: Two Weeks Notice

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FDM – Playground

Some of our UK visitors may be aware of homegrown R&B trio FDM (formerly known as Fundmental’03). Having burst onto the scene back in 2005, the guys served up what I feel to be their best release yet in the form of ‘Playground’. Arguably ahead of its time (or market aka UK), the track didn’t really garner the attention it deserved. Still, the uptempo cut goes hard, even today. {FYI: FDM have relocated to the US having signed a joint-venture deal with Geffen/Interscope late 07. Their debut album should be hitting stores before the year is out.}

 

Listen: Playground

 

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Mashonda – Blackout (ft. Nas)
Most noted for her 2005 smash ‘Back of the Club’, as well as being the wife of hit-maker Swizz beats, R&B singer Mashonda served up the club-banger ‘Blackout’ as the second release from her admittedly terrible debut ‘January Joy’. Unsurprisingly produced by Swizz, Mashonda’s swagger compliments the gritty, street sounding beat really well. Nas’ verse adds to what is an already great track.

Listen: Blackout (ft. Nas)

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Tweet – Taxi

Lifted from Tweet’s sophomore LP ‘It’s Me Again’, ‘Taxi’ serves as a reminder of the Southern Hummingbird’s oft under-appreciated appeal. In an industry filled with gimmicks and microwaveable hits, the soulful ‘Taxi’ highlights that there is still good music and genuine talent out there.

Listen: Taxi

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Your thoughts: Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

 

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