..::That Grape Juice.net::..

7th Jan

Michael Jackson is set to earn millions by playing a series of concerts at London’s 02 Arena this year, according to numerous reports.

The UK’s ‘News of The World’ reports that Jackson has been tapped to play 30 shows at the venue – formerly the Millennium Dome – pocketing a whopping £30 million in the process. As of now, the official word – as per Jackson’s publicist/general manager Raymone Bain – is that ‘Discussions are continuing but nothing has been finalized at this time.’ However, other sources (including the venue’s reps) insist the shows will take place and an announcement is imminent.

Having attended the World Music Awards here in London back in 2006, I saw firsthand that there is nothing like seeing the King of Pop in the flesh. I most definitely will be snapping up tickets for this.

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7th Jan

Keri Hilson Covers The Fader Magazine

Singer/songwriter Keri Hilson appears on the cover of latest issue of The Fader magazine. With the great success Keri enjoyed in 2007, having featured on the chart-topping ‘The Way I Are’ with Timbaland and writing Britney’s ‘Gimme More’, she is set to take center stage as an artist this year. I’ve been waiting on Keri’s project for a couple of years now, so I’m definitely anxious to see if she delivers. Anyway, you can read her great feature in the magazine by picking it up at the newsstands (it’s available now) or downloading the issue online over at The Fader website.

What do you think of the cover?

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6th Jan

New Song: Donnie – ‘So Beautiful’ (Snippet)

With new material from the Making The Band winners surfacing recently, it only seems apt for a taste of Donnie’s offerings also. Donnie, if you remember, didn’t make the final cut for the band last season, however was signed up by Diddy as a solo artist.

For the most part, I think ‘So Beautiful’ is a pretty solid (sounding) track. This mid-tempo production compliments Donnie’s voice well. My only gripe is the song’s lyrics, which range from pretty engaging to infantile and laced with cliche’s. Still, it’s promising.

Hit Or Miss?

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6th Jan

Michelle Williams Update

Check out the blog entry former Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams made on her official MySpace, in which she sheds light on her forthcoming album’s first single etc:

“As you guys know a portion of Stop This Car was “leaked” on the internet and to my SURPRISE the responses have been soooooooooooo positive!!! I’m gonna be honest I didnt leak nor can I tell you who did even if my life depended on it!! Thank y’all so much for embracing it!! It’s truly a different song for me!!! I almost didnt record it……..I’ll get in to why a little later!!! So that being said….it looks like it will be my first single (I THINK!!!!). This time around it’s time for you guys to know who I am and I’ll make sure of it!! This album will not disappoint…..I promise you!!!!”

I’m real glad Michelle and her team have gone with ‘Stop This Car’. From the snippet, the song sounds great and has the potential to be big for her.

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6th Jan

Will.i.am To Re-Release ‘Songs About Girls’

According to Entertainment Weekly, Black Eyed Peas front-man will.i.am is set to re-release his solo effort ‘Songs About Girls’:

Songs About Girls, released Sept. 25 to lackluster sales (it charted at No. 38 with 21,000 copies sold and to date has moved 47,108 units), is now entirely M.I.A. from the charts, but Interscope hasn’t given up on it yet. The label plans to re-release the record in early 2008 with three new tracks. “We went with the wrong single and it sold nothing,” a label insider admits. “We would’ve been in better shape if we had pulled the album, because to relaunch it is harder.”

There’s no doubt that ‘I Got It From My Mama’ was abysmal. It’ll be interesting to see if the re-release will garner the project any more attention.

Do you think Will should re-release ‘Songs About Girls’?

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6th Jan

Kelly Rowland – ‘Daylight’ Video

The video for Kelly Rowland’s latest single ‘Daylight’ premiered on French TV today. Lifted from the soundtrack of the ‘Astérix At The Olympic Games’ film soundtrack, Travis McCoy – of Gym Class Heroes – joins Kelly on the track. About the video; for the most part I’m liking it. The song’s ‘feel good’ vibe is put captured well with the video. It must be said that the film clips scattered throughout the vid were badly edited in and kinda take away from what otherwise is a pretty good video. On the plus side, Kelly looked f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s.

What do you think of the video?

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5th Jan

New Song: Making The Band 4 – ‘Together’ (Snippet)

With the next season of Making The Band set to premiere on MTV on January 28th, a new snippet of a song from last season’s winners has surfaced. Produced by Bryan Michael Cox, ‘Together’ is the first taste of new material we’ve had from the guys and I must say that I’m really liking it. From the onset, I’ve felt the group features great vocalists – something the track’s arrangement showcases well. It’ll be interesting to see what their debut has to offer.

Hit or Miss?

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The commercials for the new season have begun to air and, as previously reported, it’ll feature the guys from last season, Making The Band 3 winners Danity Kane, as well as Donnie (also from last season). Details of the shows premise have also emerged; Diddy moves all three parties into the same house to compete, with the winners having their album released first. Not sure how that will work without making the other two groups/artist look worse off. I’ll still tune in, though.

Your thoughts?

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5th Jan

T.I. & Tiny Expecting A Child

After a difficult 2007, which included incarceration and a miscarriage, longtime couple T.I. and Tiny finally have a reason to celebrate. It has been confirmed that Tiny, real name Tameka Cottle, is expecting the couple’s 2nd child together. Check out the report via PEOPLE.com:

Rapper T.I. (real name Clifford Harris) and his on again, off again girlfriend Tameka “Tiny” Cottle of the ’90s R&B group Xscape, are expecting another child together, the musician’s rep confirms.
Cottle, 32, recently posted the news that the couple are expecting a baby boy on her personal Myspace page, which has garnered many congratulatory comments from friends and fans.
This will be the fifth child for T.I., 27, and his second with Cottle. The couple are already parents to son King Harris, 3.
News of the pregnancy comes in the middle of T.I.’s house arrest sentence in Georgia for illegal weapons charges. The rapper was arrested last October for allegedly trying to buy machine guns and silencers. He was released on a $3 million bond until the outcome of his trial, which is still pending, but must be under home confinement.

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5th Jan

Pick Mary J. Blige’s Next Single

On Mary J. Blige’s official website, fans have been given the chance to vote for the next single to be lifted from her ‘Growing Pains’ album. Note that it’s the third single and not the follow-up to ‘Just Fine’ – which has already been confirmed as ‘Work That’. Having dropped a solid, versatile CD, I think there’s a host of great tracks to choose from. My personal vote goes to ‘Stay Down’ – IMO the album’s standout track, with the most potential for success.

Click here to vote

Which song do you think should be Mary’s next single?

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4th Jan

New Song: Danity Kane – ‘2 Of You’

With Danity Kane’s sophomore effort just months away from release, a new track from the Bad Boy collective has surfaced. ‘2 Of You’ stands as the first piece of new material to come from the group since the release of their self-titled debut. About the track; I’m not really feeling it. ‘Generic’ is the term which pretty much sums up everything about the song IMO; production, lyrics, vocals, everything…it’s just blah. Here’s hoping their new album isn’t as passable as this.

Hit Or Miss?

LISTEN: 2 Of You {Link Removed}

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4th Jan

Chingy Performs ‘Fly Like Me’ On Jay Leno Show

Rapper Chnigy, along with Amerie, stopped by ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ earlier this week to perform their current single ‘Fly Like Me’. I liked the performance, although Amerie’s vocals seemed kinda strained at times. Anyway, Chingy’s latest album, ‘Hate It Or Love It’ – from which ‘Fly Like Me’ is the first single – is out now.

*The Chingy interview will be posted at the top of next week*

What do you think of the performance?

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3rd Jan

Your Top 5 Songs Of The Moment?

That Grape Juice wants to see what you guys are listening to. So saying that, what 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to urban music; could be something new, throwback, native etc. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are – in no particular order:

1) Make It Work – Ne-Yo
2) Feedback – Janet Jackson
3) How You Gonna Act Like That – Tyrese
4) Valerie – Mark Ronson (ft. Amy Winehouse)
5) Stay Down – Mary J. Blige

What are your ‘Top 5 Songs Of The Moment’?

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