Ex To Mario Winans: The ex-girlfriend of singer/producer Mario Winans is claiming that he hasn’t paid child support for their son:

Janel Bennett, who was in an eight-year relationship with Winans before she had her son, Jordan, claims she was evicted from her home in Miami because Winans won’t pay child support. She states she is “homeless and living with friends on the South Side of Chicago,” where she works as a cocktail waitress. A DNA test shows a ‘99.99 percent probability’ that Winans is the biological parent. Mario Winans is obligated to pay Janel Bennett $4,500 per month due on the first of each month as child support. Bennett says, “He hasn’t paid me. I just wanted support, and I was on disability and Medicaid and welfare just to have the baby. His current girlfriend, Joy — the mother of his toddler daughter, Sklyar — is known publicly as his “wife.” Bennett said, “Joy lives in a 16-bedroom mansion and her daughter wears mink coats and Seven jeans, and my son doesn’t have boots to wear in the winter.”

She claims Winans has only seen Jordan once, and “doesn’t send Christmas cards, doesn’t send him birthday cards, nothing.” Bennett said that for a while, Winans was sending her some money, but “he stopped paying last year . . . by the end of August 2007, I lost the house and moved to Chicago . . . I just want him to do right by Jordan . . . It would be so simple for him to call me so we could work something out.” {Source}

Not a good look, not a good look at all.

Any thoughts?

Beyonce On Set Of 'Cadillac Records'Check out this pic of Beyonce in New Jersey on the set of her new movie ‘Cadillac Records’. The ‘Deja Vu’ singer is starring as Etta James in the film, hence the dodgy wig.
What do you think of the pic?
The Game's 60 Day Sentence Over In 8 Days According to TMZ, rapper The Game has been released from prison after serving just 8 days of his 60 day sentence:

The rapper — real name Jayceon Taylor — walked out of Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to his lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley, after serving less than a fifth of his sentence for pleading no contest to a felony charge of possession of a firearm in a school zone.

A mess, if there ever was one. This ridiculousness tops Paris Hilton’s stint in the slammer – the heiress at least served 22 days of her 45 day sentence last year. These artists won’t stop acting up, if the system will only give a ‘slap on the wrist’.

Your thoughts?

Lil' Wayne Covers The Source The April 2008 issue of The Source magazine features rapper Lil’ Wayne on its cover. (Says to self: “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all)…doesn’t mean you can’t though lol…

What do you you think of the cover?

As some of you may already know, the That Grape Juice Facebook Group launched recently. Be it at work, school, college, wherever; I’m sure many of you – like myself – spend hours upon hours on Facebook. Yes, it’s addictive lol.
Combine your daily Urban Pop Culture fix with social networking and come be a part of the ever-growing That Grape Juice Facebook community. Along with the hundreds who have already joined, you’ll be the first to get word on upcoming interviews, competitions and 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 your friends too!
Michelle Williams - 'Stop This Car' A snippet of Michelle Williams’ new single ‘Stop This Car’ surfaced at the top of the year. Granted this a remix (a more Urban sounding version, at that), it’s the first chance to hear the song’s lyrics/vocals in their entirety. I’m really liking this; it’s kinda wet my appetite for the single version of the song. IMO Michelle is going to surprise a lot of people with her project. {Thanks Selmor!}

 

Expect to see a lot more of Michelle on That Grape Juice soon 😉

Hit or Miss?

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According to reports, Kimora Lee Simmons is expecting her third child:

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmon’s ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons is reportedly pregnant – with the child of actor Djimon Honsou.

The model-turned-fashion queen – who has two children, Ming and Aoki, by Def Jam Records founder Simmons – is said to have been trying to conceive with the West African-born actor for months, since they began dating in March 2007.

And now the couple has apparently succeeded, with a source telling New York gossip column PageSix, “She’s pregnant.” {Source}

Off-topic, I know, but something about Kimora doesn’t quite sit right with me. I can’t put my finger on what, exactly, it is…

Your thoughts?

Mya - Ego Trippin'A new(ish) track by R&B singer Mya has surfaced called ‘Ego Trippin”. The song, an unreleased number from Mya’s shelved 2006/07 album ‘Liberation’, initially hit the net several months ago, yet seems to have only now garnered any attention.

With the garbage Mya was churning out from the ill-fated LP, I was a little skeptical listening to this. However, it turns out the track is very solid. The breezy mid-tempo cut has an Old Skool undercurrent, which compliments the engaging lyrics. {Thanks Selmore}

Hit or Miss?

 

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Check out this trailer for the much anticipated ‘Righteous Kill’ movie starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and 50 Cent:

Though I couldn’t tell you what 50’s role in the film is even if I tried lol, I have to give him his props. Considering that many aren’t checking for 50’s music as they once did, keeping his name out there via other means – especially in such a high-profile movie – is a good look on his part. ‘Righteous Kill’ is set to hit theatres in the US on September 12th.

Will you be going to see ‘Righteous Kill’?

Chris Brown UpdateWith the UK leg of Chris Brown’s world tour fast-approaching, a rep for the R&B star forwarded this on to me for you guys:

Chris Brown’s European tour is starting soon! He will be in concert at the indigO2 in London on 23 March and 24 March 2008.

Upgrade your Chris Brown concert experience to include a backstage pass to meet Chris Brown. Go to http://www.ucptouring.com/ for more information.

I hope this proves helpful to those who hope to meet Chris (I did receive your emails).

As many of you know, That Grape Juice will be interviewing Chris during his stay here in London. Click here to submit a question(s) if you haven’t already

Ciara & Janet To Shoot 'Feedback' (Remix) Video? Word has it that Pop superstar Janet Jackson will be joining forces with Ciara for the video for the ‘Feedback’ remix. Said to be set for shooting next week, the news comes amid ‘Feedback’s’ resurgence on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; The song jumped a whopping 35 places this week from #54-#19. Def Jam are also re-sending the track out to radio outlets.
For some reason, unbeknown to me, a lot of Janet and Ciara fans seem to dislike one another and won’t be checking for this. I know, as for me, I’m definitely looking forward to what the ladies will be serving up, should this prove legit. Known for their position as ‘entertainers’ as opposed to (for) their vocal prowess, combining the two would be big.

Any thoughts?
LL Cool J’s 1996 smash ‘Doin’ It’ serves as this week’s From The Vault video. Though the song needs little introduction (come on now!), it’s worth highlighting that it’s lifted from L’s ‘Mr Smith’ album, which also spawned major hits such as ‘Loungin’ and ‘Hey Lover (ft. Boyz II Men):

A classic, if there ever was one. LL was definitely at his peak here and for that reason ‘Doin It’ will forever remain one of the 90’s defining Hip-Hop releases. It’s a shame contemporary Hip-Hop has nothing on Hip-Hop of the past. Still, I guess that’s why we have Youtube.

Your thoughts?

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