Kendall J. Powell‘s ‘Cheerios’ calls on Rapper Nelly to serve as its new brand ambassador this year, marking his latest move to boost his visibility before the release of his brand new album!

Enlisting the star to front their ‘Must Be The Honey’ Honey Nut Cheerios campaign, the General Mills owned brand has kicked off a mass media initiative that will see Nelly rock digital ads, billboards and a social media driven effort to push the cereal…and his own new LP, ‘M.O‘.

Today, one of the first fruits of the deal’s labour was plucked with the release of a short ad directed by Hype Williams, featuring the ‘Get Like Me’ MC and the swagged out ‘Homebee’.

Check it out below!!

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Days after unveiling news of collaborations with Hip Hop heavyweights Mary J. Blige,Pharrell, and others, Jessie J jams like never before aboard ‘Excuse My Rude’ – the latest tune to be lifted from her forthcoming, September due album.

Featuring up-and-coming teen rapper Becky G, the ladies team up to throw subtlety to the wind in the banging, bass driven breakup anthem – a great sonic and conceptual departure from its ‘It’s My Party’ predecessor (unveiled just days ago).

Delivered in the form of a ‘lyric video’, tuck in below to get an ‘in your face’ reminder of how the ‘Do It Like A Dude’ diva really does it:

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Competition.

While performers may deny it fervently, they well and truly are in direct competition with each other.

An obvious sentiment? Perhaps.

However, with many of today’s acts sharing one other’s ‘casual audience’, it’s oft in the interest of these acts to create the illusion of mutual support at face value, while their teams forge plans to see their act outperform the other on the back end.

A little dramatic on our end? Well, tell that to Katy Perry– the Pop Princess whose inked an exciting new deal with Clear Channel to ensure her new single ‘Roar’ dominates US radio!

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This week’s That Grape Juice Cover Star comes from North Carolinian cutie Rae. Watch as the Youtube sensation shows us the way to really rock a cover. Click ‘PLAY’ below to see her take on Ariana Grande‘s hit ‘The Way’:

Admittedly, while there were a few bumps along the ride, Rae definitely shined where it mattered most.  Showing off a clear and sharp tone coupled with her strong execution of the song’s “highlights”, the North Carolinian easily made this vid a definite ‘must replay’.

Never succumbing to the temptation to overdo it (a failure many-her-Youtube contemporary can attest to), Rae was able to deliver the fun/lighter sides of the song while demonstrating her vocal chops in places that called for it.  With work on timing and consistency, the Youtube songstress will soon be one to watch!

For that we say bravo!

For more on Rae, visit her Youtube Page.

Want to be featured on That Grape Juice Cover Star?  Email rashad@thatgrapejuice.net!

Your thoughts?

Well that didn’t take long.

It’s been all of five minutes since Glee’s Naya Rivera and rapper Big Sean stepped out as a couple, and the pair already have a new single together. Christened ‘Sorry’, the track was premiered on LA’s Power 106 moments ago.

Typically, we’d be all sorts of cynical, however we have it on reliable word that their relationship is very much real.

As the age-old adage goes, mixing business and pleasure rarely ends well. Can Rivera and Sean re-write the rules on this, her first single? The answer awaits after the jump…

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Australian feel-good flick ‘Sapphires’ has found itself at the centre of a racism and sexism row this week, following the unveiling of its US DVD artwork.

Why?

Full story below…

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It’s been over 10 years since Grammy-winning #Soulbird India.Arie flew onto the scene with her debut album ‘Acoustic Soul’.

Since then, Arie has remained an anomaly – staying afloat on the wings of spiritually-tinged tunes like ‘Ready For Love’, ‘I Am Not My Hair’, and  ‘Video’,  her poetry-laced, guitar guided offerings kept her perched atop R&B and pop charts alike until the late 2000s when suddenly she was nowhere to be found.

Now, 2013 has brought with it a renewed voyage for India – one she shared openly when chatting exclusively with That Grape Juice recently.  The songstress dishes on her new album ‘Songversation’, those skin bleaching rumors, her open letter slamming the Zoe Saldana casting of Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic, and so much more.

As ever, we ask the questions you want the answer to.  Tuck in below for the full view:

India.Arie Shouts Out That Grape Juice!

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It would seem there’s no love lost between ‘This Is My Night‘ icon Chaka Khan and ‘Mean Girls’ actress Lindsay Lohan, following reports the former left the rehab facility they were both staying after a series of clashes.

Full story below…

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2013 is shaping up to be a major year for Hip-Hop titan Drake.

Having brought heat to the streets with buzz cut ‘Started From The Bottom’ and this week debuting new single ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’, the Canadian MC is charging ahead full steam with new album ‘Nothing Was The Same’.

Due September 17th, the hotly anticipated set receives a major promo spot in the 150th edition of XXL Magazine.

Not only does the 26-year-old appear on the coveted cover, he waxes all sorts of honest about the pressure of this particular project, making a mark amidst other major releases, his image, Jewish heritage, Amanda Bynes, and much more.

Peep quotable after the jump…

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Danity Kane may be reforming, yet that isn’t halting the solo hustle of select members, including Aubrey O’Day.

Next Tuesday (August 13th) sees the group’s most outspoken member lift the lid on ‘Between Two Evils’ – her first solo collection of songs since DK’s split in 2008.

Teased in earnest, today saw the independent EP previewed via our friends over at Perez Hilton. Is Ms. O’Day onto a winner? Decide after the jump…

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With Urban music struggles to find credible footing in the UK today,  it may be hard for some to believe that an R&B quartet once stood at the forefront of the nation’s Pop scene, alongside the force that was the Spice Girls.

Eternal….the four piece band that rocked to the top of the British charts with 1 Quadruple Platinum album, and a run that saw each and every one of the singles peak no lower than Top 20- a feat, that’s all too telling of their undisputed run at the top.

Now, 13 years after parting ways, former member Louise Redknapp has opened up on reports the group are to reunite on the hit ITV show ‘The Big Reunion’.

Her explanation below…

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Since parting ways with Diddy Dirty Money, Dawn Richard has embarked on a difficult but no doubt fruitful Independent journey, birthing many an impressive project.

However, much to the surprise of her loyal supporters, this year saw her part ways with long time collaborator Drew Scott after what some were billing an ugly feud between the pair.

Opting to keep mum on the matter for the longest, Richard may be interested to learn that Scott is now opening up on the demise of their friendship, as is explained below…

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