This week brought with it the release of Tamia‘s fifth studio album ‘Beautiful Surprise’.

The hotly anticipated LP is the petite powerhouse’s first traditional effort in over six years; yet as the age old adage goes – good things (in this case, great things) come to those who wait.

In our first interview with the Canadian songbird since 2007, she dishes readily on the delicious new album, the up’s and down’s of being an Independent artist, celebrity marriages, Basketball Wives, and more!

Check it out below…

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Christina Aguilera‘s year just keeps on getting better.

Following the well received response garnered by her new single ‘Your Body‘, her successful run on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ and the continued support of her increasingly loyal ‘Team Xtina’, today saw the arrival of more good news for the star.

She is to be honored for her philanthropic efforts at the ALMA Awards later on this year.

Details below…

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She was the undisputed Queen of Hip Hop, enjoying a reign at the top fueled by long time ghost writer Biggie Smalls.

Scoring mainstream notoriety in the early noughties by way of her verse on the now iconic remake of Patti Labelle’s ‘Lady Marmalade’, Lil Kim was well on her way to becoming Pop’s most prolific Female Rapper.

However, as we’re sure many of her fans will attest to, recent years have seen the Grammy sharer’s shine stifled by controversies- the feuds, the jail sentence, the ghostwriting…the cosmetic surgery.

So last week, out of concern for the Rap veteran, a member of her fan base ‘Team Kim’ expressed their concerns over the star by way of an email sent to That Grape Juice. Net.

Now, following its publication, the MC’s fan base has weighed in on the situation on the social networking site Twitter.

Their remarks below…

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It was the comeback many had been awaiting. Indeed, it’s been three years since Mariah Carey last released a traditional studio album – and seven since she released one anyone actually cared about.

Hence, the so-so reaction new single ‘Triumphant’ has received both critically and commercially is sure to come as somewhat of blow to the diva’s comeback campaign. A campaign which appears to be re-jigging strategy in light of the song’s performance (or lackthereof)

As reported yesterday, the 42 year old’s manager Randy Jackson confirmed that the cut’s housing album is slated for a March 2013 release – essentially auto-rendering ‘Triumphant’ a “buzz single”. A status we have a hard time believing was the “plan” from the outset. For, even the most well-prepared and well-executed projects would never leave a seven-month gap between the first “taste” of the LP and its arrival in stores. Never.

Thoroughly puzzling, it’s a “strategy” which begs the rhetorical question: why release ‘Triumphant’ now? Indeed, there isn’t an answer that could truly satisfy.

Still much loved, Mariah commands a loyal “Lamb” community; yet beyond that ultra dedicated bracket, there isn’t overwhelming “demand” for her in the music marketplace. At least not to the feverish degree that “demands” such a rush-release. What’s more, having signed up to judge ratings juggernaut American Idol, a vast weekly audience awaits Ms. Carey-Cannon when the show kicks off in January. Surely, holding off until then would have benefitted her cause more – ala rival Jennifer Lopez? Instead, she’s left with a first-hurdle misstep which sees the song moving at snail-pace at radio, sitting at #95 on US iTunes, and notable by its absence in the Top 200 of the UK tally.

There is, of course, room for the track to rebound; the debut of its music video is imminent, while its better-received remixes are due on iTunes next week. The latter being particularly noteworthy. In a recent interview with Billboard, Jackson touted the Dancier incarnations of the cut as being “for the fans”. Perhaps they are. Yet, we’re sure he and the rest of Team Mariah, are well-versed in the grey area that surrounds Billboard’s rules regarding the Hot 100. Indeed, unless structurally so different that it constitutes a “new song”, sales of remixes routinely count towards the title track’s overall chart placing. A practice which gives Mimi three lifelines to play with – if counting the original, Vintage Throwback, and Pulse versions of the song.

For us, though, we simply hoped she’d release the right song, more importantly at the right time. Still, what’s done is done. Fingers crossed for a revival of interest in the project, though; as -“new voice” and all- Mariah remains one of the industry’s most enduring and authentic assets. It’s time she stopped selling herself short.

Your thoughts?

With a career spanning almost two decades, it is impossible to deny the impact Brooklyn’s finest Lil Kim has made on both Hip Hop and – to a degree- Pop culture.

Launching the well received ‘Return Of The Queen Tour‘ two months ago, the last few years have seen the Rapper reboot her career successfully- following a nasty spat with Rap mogul Nicki Minaj.

However, despite her efforts to appease her ever growing fan base, they have attacked her- accusing her of putting her new boyfriend ‘Mr Papers’ before her career.

Details below…

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In aid of VH1’s brand spanking new ‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’, Rapper/media personality Rasheeda covers ‘Rolling Out‘ magazine this month, serving up a truly insightful look into her life.

Speaking on her ventures outside of Rap, she revealed:

I do have my website, which is www.imbossy.com … It’s an apparel website that I launched about a year and a half ago. I’m really excited about it. It’s doing extremely well, and I’m always rocking my stuff. So if you want the trendy, fly and fashionable stuff, then you need to come to my website.

I’m also doing television, of course, and working on the new album, Boss Chick Music that will be dropping really soon. I shot the video to the song “Marry Me.”

I also shot the video for the song “Legs to the Moon” featuring Kandi [Burruss], so I just have a lot that I’m juggling right now. One thing that a lot of people might not know is that I get a lot of my songs placed on television, movies and video games. Those things are doing extremely well, so I just feel extremely blessed to be able to wake up every day and do what I love.

Then on her seemingly peaceful position on ‘Love’ she explained:

Well the cameras followed me, so what you see is what you get. And to be honest with you, I really don’t have time to be bickering with no b—–. That’s just not where I’m at.

I am too focused on making money, keeping the bills paid, and making sure that my family is ok. I mean don’t get me wrong, I understand that a lot of that it good for TV … but at the end of the day, I just really want people to look at my situation and see the importance of family, and know that you can raise a child as mom and dad … together.

We don’t see a lot of family structure in the black community, so I hope that people can look at my husband and I, and see that when they follow our story line.

Love & Hip Hop Atlanta airs every Monday at 8 only on VH1.

Source.

Your thoughts?

For years many awaited Lauryn Hill‘s return, following a decade spent living away from the public eye to raise her family.

Then, in the middle of last year, the vocalist returned to the stage delivering a number of well received sets at festivals around the USA- and dates in and around Europe.

However, just when her career seemed to be finding its footing, today saw a spanner thrown in her works. Reports claim she may be headed to jail for not paying taxes in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Taxes, that add up to become a whopping $1.5 million.

Now she has responded to the claims with a chilling open letter, shedding light on what she purports to be a dangerous music industry.

Read below…

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Check Beyonce, showing her support for the Broadway community  last night.

Turning up at the show ‘Ghost‘, the fresh faced belter posed with its cast backstage once it had finished, months before she begins work on her very own remake of ‘A Star Is Born’.

Sans Baby Blue, Carter’s sighting also comes three days her protegee Rita Ora scored her second UK #1 single, with the cut previously rejected by Rihanna, ‘RIP‘.

More from her night below…

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Some say she was pushed, she says she jumped but whichever way you look at it- Sheree Whitfield is no longer a ‘Real Housewife Of Atlanta‘.

So, in a bid to push her name beyond the realms of the show, she has teamed up with Zuma to create what she calls a ‘5 million pound fitness challenge‘. A deal, she took to Essence Magazine to dish on, also taking the time to answer the questions many still want answers to.

Interview below:

ESSENCE.com: What’s been going on in your life since you officially left Real Housewives of Atlanta?
SHEREE WHITFIELD: I’ve been spending more time with my kids and my family and planning my next move. I’ve got a couple projects that I’m working on that I’m really excited about. I’ve partnered with a company called Zuma to create a 5 million-pound fitness challenge. We’re trying to help a generation get healthy. I’m really excited about it because this is my realm and what I love.

ESSENCE.com: RHOA is so successful. Was it daunting to make the decision to leave?
SHEREE: Well, you know what, I had been thinking about it for a while. We don’t see the show until it airs, or a couple days before it airs. Even when we were taping, there were a few things I wasn’t happy with as far as how I was portrayed. I was going through some really tough things in my life and watching back and seeing how it affected not only my life, but also my kids’ lives, I made a decision that I didn’t want to be selfish. My kids come first.

ESSENCE.com: How do you respond to people who say that you were actually fired instead of quitting? 
SHEREE: I don’t have a response to that. I could really care less because I know what happened. It was an amicable split. I was ready to move and I don’t need to explain myself to anybody. I am super happy and I’m moving in a different direction. This is what I know. I’m not about just being on a show bickering and fighting with women. There are big parts of my life that weren’t shown that I’m ready for everybody to see.

ESSENCE.com: Speaking of behavior on the show, is there somewhere you can take responsibility? The producers do put you in that situation, yes, but it’s still you doing it.
SHEREE: Definitely. You’re being put in situations with people you normally won’t be around. You’re doing the show, but at the same time, you can’t control the editing. It’s crazy, the negative stereotype that Black women get about this when it’s not a racial issue; it’s a gender issue. We’re very emotional beings — women period, not just Black women or White women or Italian women or Asian women. We’re all the same way. But unfortunately, [in] the Black community there’s always a microscope on what we do and that’s not fair because you have other shows like Jersey Shore — they’re getting drunk and fist fighting. Then you have Mob Wives and Housewives of New Jersey — they’re flipping tables. Everybody handles things differently. When you have women of other races doing it, they’re not boycotting them. I don’t think it’s fair the stereotype that they put on African-American women, or females period.

ESSENCE.com: So why do you think people react like that to Black women on these shows?
SHEREE: I don’t know. We’re not here to represent the entire Black community.

ESSENCE.com: When you say you were going through tough times during the last season, are you talking specifically about your child support issues with your ex-husband Bob Whitfield or your life in general?
SHEREE: In general. Bob and I have been going through a lot since day one, and then the child support thing happened. All the drama on the show didn’t help. I don’t want my daughter thinking it’s okay when you have women constantly — we didn’t fight — but we bickered and we had arguments all the time. You’re put in situations where you’re with people that you wouldn’t normally be hanging out with.

ESSENCE.com: How are you and Bob now? Have you worked out the child support issues?
SHEREE: No, we haven’t. One day I hope Bob and I can sit down and become good friends and even better parents to our kids.

ESSENCE.com: Are you keeping in touch with any of your co-stars?
SHEREE: Actually I just saw Kandi last night. I wish all the girls the best. The ones that I like and the ones that I don’t like, I wish everybody the best.

ESSENCE.com: Was anyone on that show a genuine friend to you?
SHEREE: I would say there’s a couple, yes. I won’t name them but they know. But I would definitely say there are two people.

ESSENCE.com: You and NeNe [Leakes] showed how much you didn’t like each other on that reunion show. Has anything been resolved between you two?
SHEREE: Resolved how? I don’t think we’ve had a friendship for some years. I’m surrounding myself with confident people so I’m just living life and having a good time and doing me.

ESSENCE.com: Have you heard about former Miss USA Kenya Moore possibly replacing you?
SHEREE: Honestly, I haven’t followed the show since I left. I know they’ve thrown a lot of names out. I wish whoever gets the spot the best of luck.

ESSENCE.com: How is construction on your new home, a.k.a. Chateau Sheree, going?
SHEREE: It’s going really great. You know, that takes time, and I want it done right. I don’t want nobody to come over, blow on it and it falls down.

Peep one of Sheree’s more iconic moments on the show above…

Your thoughts?

Cop a gander of Christina Milian!

The star of The Voice and newest signee to Young Money strikes many a fierce pose in the latest issue of Denim magazine.

Accompanying the colourful feature is an interview which sees the ‘Dip It Low’ singer dish on her relationship with ex The-Dream, her daughter Violet, dating, and more.

Peep soundbites, more pics, and a behind the scenes look at the shoot after the jump…

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Never before has the world seen a  Female Rapper fare so well on a Pop front in the way Queens belle  Nicki Minaj has in the last two years.

Outselling Rihanna‘s ‘Loud‘ and Beyonce‘s ‘4‘ in the US with her debut set ‘Pink Friday‘, Minaj’s success albeit commendable, has placed her under intense criticism.

Criticism, which has seen her labelled a sell-out for embracing Pop music.

Now  she has weighed in on these claims.

Her thoughts below…

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Rapper Drake serves up all sorts of divo fierce in GQ’s new ‘Style Bible’ issue.

The Canadian MC (real name, Aubrey Drake Graham) talks to the publication about his astronomical rise, sexual escapades, not being a “hard” rapper, issues with his father, music, and more.

Peep more pics and soundbites below…

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