Competition: Alicia Keys Tour Give-Away! As earlier reported, That Grape Juice has teamed up with AEG Live, one of the world’s leading providers of live entertainment, to give you the chance to win tickets to see Alicia Keys live in concert! The Grammy Award winning superstar is currently touring the US in support of her multi-Platinum album ‘As I Am’. With special guests Ne-Yo and Jordin Sparks, the tour is unmissable!
Over the course of three weeks, That Grape Juice will be offering a pair of tickets to select dates of the tour in May. This weeks (Week 2) cities/dates are:

* Dallas, Texas: Nokia Theatre – May 14th 2008

* New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans Arena – May 22nd 2008

To be in with a chance of winning this week’s instalment, answer the following question correctly:

What is Alicia’s real name?

a) Alicia Augello-Cook

b) Alicia Moore

c) Alicia Keys

Email your answer as well as your full name, age, and address (as well as State – *very important*) to competitions@thatgrapejuice.net. Please be sure to put ‘Alicia Comp – Week 2 + your desired date’ as the subject. Winners will be selected randomly from all correct answers. Competition ends Sunday 4th May. Good luck!

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You can also purchase tickets to Alicia’s tour by clicking here

Soulja Lines Up New Album & More Despite being ridiculed as a ‘one hit wonder’, teen star Soulja Boy is currently readying his sophomore LP as well as several other ventures. Check out the report via MTV.com:

“My new album is called Back to School,” he revealed last week in Atlanta. “Basically, it is really me taking it back to the basics. It’s time to start studying again. Make it happen, man. … The time I drop the album, everybody is gonna be going back to school. My fans are 21 and under. That’s what I’m focusing on.”

Soulja may have rapped about getting F’s in school, but since he’s become a celeb, the young’un has obviously garnered knowledge in economics. He has a full blitz tied into the album. Besides the record, he’s dropping the Soulja Boy sunglasses, his own signature shoes called Yums, as well as a cartoon titled “Bad Little Homies” about him and his friends. Not to be left out is the ever-essential clothing, S.O.D.s. It’s named after his record label, Stacks on Deck. On deck are his protégés the All-Stars. Topping it all off will be the Soulja Boy and Friends Tour, featuring himself and other young acts.

Soulja said that since he’s making all that money now, he’ll be willing to open his album up for collaborations this time. He produced 90 percent of his debut and had no big-name features.

“I’m on Interscope [Records]. I could have went to 50 [Cent], Polow [Da Don], Timbaland,” he said about his first effort. “I feel as though I had to prove myself. [This time,] I’mma look around [for tracks], whether it’s a producer like Polow or a producer nobody ever heard of. For my fanbase, people who tune in to Soulja Boy, I think a good feature would be me and Chris Brown. Soulja Boy featuring Chris Brown — my audience would be like, ‘Oh my God!’ ”

Didn’t his first album (which was garbage IMO) just come out?! I guess he knows his ’15’ could be up at anytime (they arguably they are already), so he’s keeping it moving. I can’t knock his hustle. Saying that, I find it a little hard to believe any of the artists he name-dropped would ever think of doing a collabo with him. Imagine 50 and Soulja Boy on the same track LMAO.


Any thoughts?
As reported yesterday, Whitney Houston performed at Tobago’s Plymouth Jazz Festival on Sunday. Reports have been suggesting the 44 year old disappointed with her set, however you can judge for yourself by watching her rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ at the show below:

Hmm. Not as bad as I thought, yet still left a lot to be desired. On the one hand, it’s great to see her sing with a clear, polished tone; however ‘The Voice’ was largely absent from this overly safe performance – showing itself sporadically between the ‘talky’ majority. Still, watching this offers hope that Whitney could very well crank out a successful well-sung ‘Studio LP’ (See: Mariah Carey). Whether her unmatched live vocal ability returns to past glories will be interesting to see. Whitney’s much-anticipated new album is tentatively slated for a November release.

What do you think of the performance?

Madonna - 'Hard Candy': Will You Be Buying? Today sees the release of Madonna’s 11th studio album ‘Hard Candy’. Boasting contributions from Urban heavyweights Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, the record is the superstar’s first full-scale foray into the world of Urban music.
That Grape Juice wants to know if you’re sold on Madonna’s latest musical effort. Is it believable or contrived? Will you be buying? Drop your views in the comments section…

Your thoughts?

The video for The-Dream’s new single ‘I Luv Your Girl’, which features rapper Young Jeezy, made it’s debut on BET’s 106 & Park yesterday. Both the song and the accompanying clip are kinda ‘blah’ if I must say so myself. I’m still waiting on him to release ‘She Needs My Love’; I’ve had that on constant rotation since his album ‘Love/Hate’ dropped back in December.

What do you think of the video?

Competition: Alicia Keys Tour Give-Away! - Week 1 WinnersThanks all those who entered the Week 1 of our ‘Alicia Keys Tour Give-Away’.
The correct answer to the question:

Which label did Alicia sign with first?

b) Columbia

The winners, who are listed below, win a pair of tickets each to their selected date (email confirmation has also been sent out):
* San Diego, California: San Diego Sports Center – May 7th 2008 – Winner:
Dewitt L. King

* Las Vegas, Nevada: MGM Grand – May 9th 2008 – Winner
Cherry Lyn Pintado
Congratulations to the winners! Stay tuned for the Week 2 instalment of the competition, which will be posted tomorrow.
‘The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious’ winners performed their new single ‘Like Me’ recently on morning show KTLA. Check out the performance below:

Amateur(ish), yet pretty decent. They have a long way to go. For those not in the know, Girlicious are the creation of Robin Antin, the brainchild behind the Pussycat Dolls. The aim when forming the band, as seen on the show, was to produce a more ‘Urban’ PCD-esque group.

What do you think of the performance?

Whitney Hits A Sour Note In Tobago According to our friends over at AOL Black Voices, Whitney Houston’s recent concert at Tobago’s Plymouth Jazz Festival yesterday (April 27th) was a shambles:

The ‘Greatest Love of All’ singer performed on the last night of the festival, just before headliner Rod Stewart took the stage.

Houston opened her show with ‘Its Not Right, But Its Okay’ and by her third song, ‘Saving All My Love,’ the once soprano’s newfound tenor tone was in full rasp.

Delivering only seven songs during her 30 minute set, Houston was reportedly paid a whopping $3 million for the show.

Though journalists were flown in from all over the world, Houston refused to allow media and photographers within 200 feet of the stage. She brought her own photographer to the venue and only he was allowed to shoot her performance.

Wearing a white gown with a single shoulder strap, Houston skipped around the stage and continuously shouted to the crowd: “I love you Trinidad !’

Unfortunately, the concert was in Tobago!

Locals shouted back each time: “This is Tobago!”

The 44-year-old music icon ambitiously attempted ‘And I’ll Always Love You,’ however she struggled through the build up and knew better than attempt the high finish.

She bowed and then squatted after her pseudo-encore of Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman,’ which Houston also recorded for ‘The Bodyguard’ soundtrack.

With the continued reports of Whitney’s diminished vocal state, I’m beginning to wonder whether making a ‘comeback’ is in her best interest (the album is slated for a November release). For, I’m more than sure she’ll be torn to shreds by the media and public alike should she attempt to turn in such performances back home in the States. Here’s hoping she gets herself together ASAP.


Your thoughts?
The video for Mariah Carey’s new single ‘Bye Bye’ is set to debut this week. In the meanwhile, check out this short preview:

I’ll reserve my judgement until I see the vid in its entirety.

Your thoughts?

The Best You Never Heard: JoJo, Teedra Moses, Tamia & Michael Jackson

This week’s edition of ‘The Best You Never Heard’ serves up songs by teen star JoJo, Teedra Moses, Tamia and the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Drop me your suggestions for future installments at sam@thatgrapejuice.net

 

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JoJo – The Way You Do Me

 

JoJo’s 2006 effort ‘The High Road’ saw the teen star embrace a more Urban-inspired sound; one of the standout examples of this was the Swizz Beats (yes, Swizz Beats) produced ‘The Way You Do Me’. Now, depending on how you wish to interpret the song’s lyrical content, it can be considered somewhat risque – especially taking into account her age. Saying that, there’s no denying this one’s a banger

 

Listen: The Way You Do Me

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Teedra Moses – You Better Tell Her

Songstress Teedra Moses has been steadily building up an army of loyal followers since the release of her critically acclaimed LP ‘Complex Simplicity’ back in 2006. Indeed the former stylist-to-the-stars served up one of that year’s most solid efforts IMO. Filled with great cut after great cut, ‘You Better Tell Her’ stands as one of my personal favourites.

 

Listen: You Better Tell Her

 

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Tamia – Too Grown For That

 

 

Lifted from Tamia’s most recent album ‘Between Friends’, the Darkchild produced ‘Too Grown For That’ makes this week’s edition for a number of reasons. Aside from the fact that it’s one of the album’s most solid tracks, the uptempo, club-ready production is a welcome departure from her traditional (mid-tempo/ballad) forte. A true testament to Tamia’s versatility as an artist.

Listen: Too Grown For That

 

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Michael Jackson – We’ve Had Enough

Taken from Michael’s 2004 greatest hits set ‘ The Ultimate Collection’, the previously unreleased ‘We’ve Had Enough’ shows that the King of Pop is still at the top of his game. This rousing track is very much in the vein of Michael’s worldwide hit ‘Earth Song’. Laced with enough ‘Michaelisms’ to echo the ‘glory days’, this one is a winner.

Listen: We’ve Had Enough

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

Halle Berry Post-Pregnancy Appearance

Actress Halle Berry made her first post-pregnancy appearance yesterday the Silver Rose Gala in Beverly Hills. The 41 year old looks better than ever; indeed, everything is sitting right lol.

Halle Berry Post-Pregnancy Appearance Halle Berry Post-Pregnancy Appearance Halle Berry Post-Pregnancy Appearance

Any thoughts?

Janet At The GLAAD Media AwardsPop superstar Janet Jackson was honored at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards which took place at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre this past Saturday. Jackson, seen below sharing a kiss with Ellen Degeneres, was honored with the Vanguard Award.
In other Janet news, there are mounting murmurings about a possible performance on Dancing With The Stars in May. Here’s hoping there’s some truth to it and that promotion for ‘Discipline’ picks up soon.

Janet At The GLAAD Media Awards Janet At The GLAAD Media Awards Janet At The GLAAD Media Awards

Your thoughts?
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