Huge single, tanking album.
The above narrative is one Pop pretender Cheryl Cole will be all too familiar with this week. For, following record-breaking sales of her latest single ‘Call My Name’, its housing album ‘A Million Lights’ is on-course to debut with lukewarm sales – and miss the top spot altogether.
In response to last week’s debacle which saw Pop star Chris Brown and Rapper Drake throw down at an NYC nightclub, the MC has shared his thoughts on the fight with New York fans.
Halfway through his ‘Club Paradise‘ set in the city, the performer weighed in on the issue- telling his side of the embarrassing story.
Watch below…
This week’s From The Vault pick is the crossover Gospel classic, ‘Shackles (Praise You)’ by Mary Mary.
Released at the very beginning of the noughties, ‘Shackles’ was the Atkins-Campbell sisters’ first ever single and stands as their biggest hit. After reaching the pole position on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs, the cut managed to become a crossover hit placing #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and coming at an impressive #9 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart. It proved to be a global smash when it hit the Top 10 of multiple countries in Europe as well as Australia.
The accompanying video, which to this day stays an MTV and VH1 favorite, underined the “life gets better” aura evoked by the song’s lyrics (which were penned by the group and Warryn Campbell).
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At the time, Gospel purist disapproved of the track and Mary Mary’s work moreover labeling it “too secular”. Although such claims remain a constant about Contemporary Gospel, over the years acts such as Kirk Franklin, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Yolanda Adams and of course Mary Mary have helped the subgenre garner recognition and respect from a greater sect of the faith-based community as well as from the mainstream.
In many ways, this release broke the shackles off old school ideology and bridged a colossal gap. In every way, then, ‘Shackles’ is a classic.
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Mary Mary continue their foray into the mainstream with their hit WE tv reality show, aptly titled ‘Mary Mary’. Click here to check out our interview with them on our sister site That Grape Juice TV. And be sure to keep it locked on TGJ TV for your Urban Hollywood fix!
A decade ago, accurate-or at least favorable representations of Latin Americans were an all too welcome Pop culture commonplace.
If it wasn’t ‘Taina‘ gracing our screens on Paramount’s Nickelodeon it was the fiery sounds of Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, figureheads for what has now be known as ‘The Latin Explosion‘.
Today, the story isn’t quite the same.
For, while the likes of Pitbull continue to fly the flag for Latin American music overseas, the demographic remains both mis- and underrepresented on the small screen.
Until now.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydu_7jtoaiI]
Starring 3LW front woman Adrienne Bailon and 106 & Park host Julissa Bermudez, That Grape Juice is pleased to welcome the Style Network‘s ‘Empire Girls’.
Friends for over a decade, the ‘Girls’ landed the show following requests by friends to allow cameras into their lives.
Bermudez told us:
I had fears about being on Reality TV- because it really puts you out there, but so many funny crazy things would happen to us and our friends would be like “where are the cameras?!”
However, if you were hoping for the table tossing, cat fighting that plagues a number of today’s shows, think again. According to Bailon, “Empire Girls is feel good TV, it focuses on us being strong independent women with real goals and aspirations“.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGktdKLSN6o]
She went onto admit:
Of course there’s going to be drama, but it’s all real. None of it’s exaggerated for the cameras.
We’re both Latina, I was born in the New York and Julie was born in the Dominican Republic, but we both represent a huge demographic in the US, and that’s the second or third generation Latin American woman- and the show reflects that.
Both of them declaring:
It won’t endorse the stereotypes.
Our story is about inspiration, it’s about hard work, determination and progress and you’ll definitely see that with both of us trying to each our seperate goals.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCDDAi1ytdI]
Catch the ‘Empire Girls’ every Sunday only on The Style Network, (9-10pm. ET)
Two days ago, the death of ‘Moesha’ star Yvette Wilson struck up the ever heated topic of ‘US healthcare’.
For, before her untimely death, Wilson had been forced to call on the general public to help pay for medical expenses, believed to have amounted to $25,000.
Moved by the tragedy, Twitter saw Pop mogul Nicki Minaj weigh in on the matter and call on President Obama to make the necessary changes to ensure tax paying citizens received help from the State if ever in Wilson’s position.
Hours later, Quest of ‘The Roots responded to Minaj’s tweets, informing her that The White House would be interested in working with her to raise health care awareness.
Now, the world of Pop has weighed in on his claim.
Full story below…
Last night, the world began mourning the death of Yvette Wilson– the acclaimed comedienne most recognized for her work in 90s sitcom.
A long time sufferer of cervical cancer, the last few months saw the actress call on the public’s help to fund her treatment as the US health system- unlike that of the UK’s- does not offer free medical care.
Enraged by the injustice, ‘Superbass‘ Rapper Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to air out her feelings. Feelings, which have now scored her an invitation to the White House to debate the issue.
Full story below…
Chris Brown and Twitter.
It’s a relationship made in the fiery pits of PR hell. Yet still, it blazes on.
Having whipped up a media frenzy with pics and tweets alluding to drama with Drake, the ‘Turn Up The Music’ singer has vented his frustrations at gossip website TMZ.
His words after the jump…
Many will generally remember singer Kiely Williams from her stints in 3LW and the Cheetah Girls.
However, it was her 2010 solo effort ‘Spectacular’ which ensured she remained etched in mass consciousness. For better or for worse.
Having recovered from the overwhelming success of the trashy track, Williams has resurfaced – talking with our friends over at Madame Noire about what she’s up to now, her current relationship with her former bandmates and more.
Her explanation for the ‘Spectacular’ video is a particular must-see!
In response to reports he is responsible for attacking Pop star Chris Brown at New York club last night, Drake representatives have released a statement dispelling these claims- which have dominated the web all day.
Official statement below…
Rising to fame as the breakout star of ‘Pop Stars: The Rivals” back in 2002, Cheryl Cole‘s story- albeit turbulent- is nothing short of fascinating.
For, by way of conveniently timed melodramas between she and footballer Ashley Cole, Simon Cowell’s ‘X Factor‘ , and the benefit of her ‘Girls Aloud’ platform, Cheryl has seen her water turned to premium wine. All, without a trace of discernible talent.
So, it should come as little surprise that in a recent interview with Pop Justice, she admitted to having no connection with her own lyrics.
Her comments and brand spanking new single below…
As one of Pop’s more powerful players, Epic exec LA Reid knows a thing or two about star spotting.
Birthing the careers of P!nk, Ciara, Rihanna and TLC to name a few, his work in the industry recently landed him a judging position on FOX’s X Factor USA, alongside Simon Cowell.
Now, one month after ‘Toxic’ beaut Britney Spears joined that panel, Reid has weighed in on her chances of winning the show if she was on the other side of the judging table.
Full story below…
That Grape Juice caught up with Pop megastar Usher at Capital FM’s Summertime Ball 2012.
With the crooner’s latest singles flying up the charts, many a fan are scratching their heads as to the whereabouts of the video for his current smash ‘Scream’.
Ever keen to ask the questions you really want answers to, we asked the 33 year old just that, as well as his response to rumours of a tour with other R&B acts (the names of which we can’t divulge).
Peep his…err..”coy” response above.
Usher’s hot new album ‘Looking 4 Myself’ is in stores now.
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