This week’s edition of ‘The Best You Never Heard’ serves up tracks from the likes of Toni Braxton, Keri Hilson, Estelle and R&B quartet N2U. You can drop me your suggestions for future installments at sam@thatgrapejuice.net

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Toni Braxton – Midnite

R&B songstress Toni Braxton delivered, what I feel to be, her most cohesive effort for a long while yet in the form of 2005’s ‘Libra’. Though the album only achieved mild success, tracks such as the smooth mid-tempo ‘Midnite’ highlight the LP’s more deserving (of success) nature. A great mix of ‘vintage Toni’ and more contemporary production, ‘Midnite’ definitely shows Braxton can more than hang with the current crop of female artists out at the moment.

Listen: Midnite

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Keri Hilson – Hands & Feet

Jermaine Dupri’s ill-fated stint as the Head of Urban at Virgin Records didn’t prove to be all bad; R&B crooners N2U were one of the first (and only) signee’s to the label under JD’s headship. ‘Baby Mama love’, taken from their 2005 debut ‘Issues’, is an awesome track on a number of fronts. With its engaging and unconventional subject-matter, as well as their stellar vocal delivery, the song stood as one of my personal favorites from that year.

Listen: Baby Mama Love

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

LMAO. It’s kinda sad, as though exaggerated, a lot of what she’s saying is the truth – the sad truth…

Your thoughts?

A glowing Whitney Houston attended Muhammed Ali’s Celebrity Fight XIV yesterday with her aunt Dionne Warwick yesterday at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Arizona. Warwick had the following to say about the now-stabilized Houston:

There’s no doubt she was referring to the extracts Bobby Brown’s upcoming autobiography which surfaced earlier this week. In any case, Whitney definitely looks to be in great shape (the twins were sitting right lol).

Also in attendance at the event, which saw Whitney present Ali with an award onstage, was her ‘Bodyguard’ co-star Kevin Costner. Check out the pic of the pair below:

{Thanks Terrence!}

Any thoughts?

Former TLC member Chilli looks set to (re)launch her solo career this year, following a botched effort early last year. The first single from the as-yet untitled set, is the aptly titled ‘Dumb Dumb Dumb’ – which was written by Cristyle the pen behind Mariah’s 18th #1 ‘Touch My Body’. While the busy production is pretty good, lyrically the song falls flat. It would seem that Chilli is trying to base this song, subject matter-wise, on the 90’s ‘guy-bashing’ craze that used to be ‘all the rage’. Granted this concept isn’t necessarily played out, it would help if the song was anywhere near good. As one of those who’ve been patiently awaiting Chilli’s solo material, this -as well as her other efforts (shudders at the thought of ‘Straight Jack’) have been real disappointing. It kinda has me thinking that the idea of Chilli ever going solo should have been left in the 90’s – a time when I feel she could have feasibly had any success. {Thanks Andy}

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The performance speaks for itself. Amazing. With the industry increasingly pushing musically-challenged artists to the forefront, Jennifer is a testament to the fact that genuine vocalists still exist and shine like no other when given the chance. Good stuff.

Your thoughts?

Ryan Leslie, the brainchild behind hits by Destiny’s Child, Cassie, Danity Kane and more, is set to drop his self-titled debut on June 17th. ‘Diamond Girl’ is the album’s first single, the video for which premiered on BET last night. Though the video isn’t anything to shout about, it’s still pretty good – as is the song. Whether or not this will garner Leslie any more recognition than he has already has will be interesting to see.

What do you think of the video / song?

The Interview:

LOL! Jay had me rolling with the R. Kelly jibes. About the performance, it was awesome.

Following the abrupt axing of popular CW show Girlfriends a few months, the show’s stars have decided to sue the network for not honoring their contracts and refusing to pay them the money they’re due. Check out the report by our friend Jawn Murray over at AOL Black Voices:

The CW apparently only offered to pay the actors half of their episodic salary to shoot the makeshift finale, thus the stars collectively opted not to participate.

In addition, several people close to the show tell me that The CW refuses to honor the contracts of the principal cast members and does not intend to pay the actors for the nine episodes that will not be taped.

Now the show stars have hired a litigator who will file a joint lawsuit on behalf of the talent, suing the network for the money they are due.

“The network told them point blank, ‘Sue us!’ After using this show to help build its name, The CW has turned their back on them and disrespected them in the most horrible way,” said someone associated with the show, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. {Click here to read more}

Without even considering the fact that the show was one of the network’s flagship offerings, treating anyone as such is not a good look. I’m glad to see the cast standing up against such nonsense.

Any thoughts?

After a brief hiatus, rapper Busta Rhymes is back on the music scene. Set to release his brand new album ‘Blessed’ on June 17th, Busta will drop Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em) as the LP’s first single. The track, which sounds like a Neptunes production, is a hit and miss affair IMO; Busta’s return to the rapid-paced delivery – that he has become renown for – suits the track’s high-octane production pretty well. However, lyrically, the song doesn’t really go anywhere. Still, I’m definitely anticipating Busta’s new record; as I had high hopes for his moderately received last LP ‘The Big Bang’.

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SMH. Granted we’ve finally got to hear the song it’s entirety – which is pretty good IMO – it’s very disappointing to see that she lip-synced the whole performance; not partially – all of it. While I’ve warmed more to the what the album looks set to be offering, I still stand by my claim that Mariah has become pretty much a studio singer – as she either doesn’t care to perform live anymore or can’t. I’m thinking it’s more the latter. Yes, I know the Lambs will probably chew me out, so with without further ado…..

What do you think of the performance?