Check out episode 6 of Monica‘s BET reality show ‘Still Standing’ (below), which aired last night. I’m watching it now…what you waiting for?! LOL. Enjoy.

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R&B singer Amerie recently spoke to our good friends over at Rap-Up.com about the poor performance of her latest LP ‘In Love & War’. The 31 year old stunner isn’t ‘sweating’ sales, because she apparently sees ‘the bigger picture’. This despite, the album (her Def Jam debut) selling just 12,500 in its first week and only managing a lowly #46 peak on the Billboard 200:

On The Album’s Sales

“It’s a very weird time. I didn’t worry about it ’cause I felt like it’s not about the first week. I knew when the album came out, it wasn’t coming out with a big hit ’cause we just went to radio with the ‘Pretty Brown’ record two weeks before the album came out, so we already knew it was going to be one of those over time things vs. a first week thing, which is cool.”

On not setting expectations of herself due to unpredictability of industry

“There’s no way to tell right now. I was actually curious ’cause I kept saying, ‘This is interesting, going to radio with a song and two weeks later your album is coming out.’ I’ve never really done it like that before.”

On the iTunes error which saw the album not available on the leading music outlet

“That was weird. I don’t know what happened with that. The people at iTunes are really cool. I just thought that was so odd. They tried to fix it as fast as they could.”

Though I feel both the album and Amerie herself are criminally underrated, I’m sure hoping she was putting on her media/political ‘face’ on when giving this answer. For, if not, her ramblings would be denial personified. Having interviewed her for this very project, she came across very intelligent to me, so I’d lean more towards the notion of her knowing internally that her label screwed all the way up and that she’s putting on a brave face.

The whole situation is such a shame, as had Def Jam paid even a fraction of the attention they paid to Rihanna (yes, I went there), I’m sure Amerie would be performing a lot better than she is. Not to be confused as me taking a pop at Ms. Fenty (which I’m legitimately not, it’s in no way her fault), it’s oh-so-annoying seeing a label pump money into a less talented entity, when they have a performer of Amerie’s calibre on their roster. If we’re talking aesthetics too, Amerie is equally if not more stunning – but that’s just my opinion. In any case, it seems like this album is done. SMH…

Your thoughts?

The incomparable Lady GaGa features in the January 2010 issue of Elle Magazine. GaGa, 23, talks in the magazine of the stress of working so hard, sexuality and her romantic future. Check out the insightful excerpts from the piece below, as well as more pics:

On bodily reactions to stress: “I get all the symptoms of a pregnant woman. I get headaches, I get tired, I get blurred vision sometimes during a really intense session with [her creative team] the Haus.”

On a recurring theme in her work: “I feel that if I can show my demise artistically to the public, I can somehow cure my own legend. I can show you so you’re not looking for it. I’m dying for you on domestic television—here’s what it looks like, so no one has to wonder.”

On being a former waitress: “I was really good at it. I always got big tips. I always wore heels to work! I told everybody stories, and for customers on dates, I kept it romantic. It’s kind of like performing.”

On using her sexuality: “My album covers are not sexual at all, which was an issue at my record label. I fought for months, and I cried at meetings. They didn’t think the photos were commercial enough…The last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself.”

On her romantic future: “In eight to 10 years, I want to have babies for my Dad to hold, grandkids. And I want to have a husband who loves and supports me, just the way anyone else does. I would never leave my career for a man right now, and I would never follow a man around.”

Great pics and an even better read! Stan-ish as it may sound, I become more of a supporter of ol’ Crazy with each passing day. Ironically enough, it’s largely because, despite all the wackiness and hoo-haa, she distinctly comes across as…dare I say it…normal (shock horror lol). That and course the fact she’s immensely talented. More power to her!

Your thoughts?

Rapper 50 Cent visited the ‘The Tyra Banks Show’ to promote his new album, ‘Before I Self-Destruct’, recently. The music mogul took part in a hilarious discussion with the former supermodel and her guests. 50’s LP debuted on the Billboard 200 with over 160, 000 units, an occurrence that he blamed on album leaks. I don’t want to give anything away but his ” voluptuous apple” booty comment was erm…yeah..

Sam’s 2 pence: Is it me or is anyone else shocked at the 180 ol’ Curtis seems to have done on the personality tip? He came across really well, yet almost seemed like an entirely different person….

Thoughts?

Super producer Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins released a special compilation mix to commemorate producing 50 smash hit singles. Hands-down my favourite producer (hence my excitement when hearing an artist is working with him), listening to this really drove home why he has sustained in this at-times fickle industry after 15 years. A poignant reminder of why Jerkins is the premier hit-maker of all hit-makers. A great retrospective cut.

LISTEN: Darkchild 50 Single Mix

In a December/January issue of Complex Magazine, Hip-Hop superstar Eminem delved into a discussion about his upcoming album release, his successful return to the charts and his issues with drugs. While elaborating on his past drug habits, the rapper noted several similarities that he observed between himself and the late King of Pop Michael Jackson. An excerpt from the interview can be seen below:

When the details of Michael Jackson’s death came to light, did you see any parallels?

“Oh, 100 percent,” Em said when asked about parallels between Jackson’s demise and his own hard times. “When you read things about Michael Jackson it’s hard to decipher what the f— is true, but there’s the story of how he woke up at whatever time and he needed something to go back to sleep because he has this or that and it didn’t work — that’s exactly what used to happen to me,” Em continued. “I would take a couple of pills and I would be up an hour later and I’d want more.

“It’s one of the pitfalls of fame,” he added. “I could just say, ‘Yo, I need this and this and this,’ and they’re going to give me whatever I want.” {Source}

It goes to show that the old saying is true: “with great power comes great responsibility” With seemingly unlimited financial resources and a team of well-paid ‘yes’ men and women at their sides, many celebrities lose touch with reality. Hopefully stories like Em’s and Michael’s, as well as those provided by the countless artists who have been consumed by the drug world, will inspire future and current generations to ‘just say no’. Eminem’s ‘Relapse: Refill’ hits stores on December 22nd.

Thoughts?

*Normal posts resume below!*

Following on from our wildly successful Nokia / Rihanna competition, That Grape Juice is pleased to announce that we have once again teamed up with the phone giant! This time, we’re giving YOU the chance to win the brand, spanking new Nokia X6 handset (‘Comes With Music Edition’).

The must-have gadget features a 3.2 inch  touch-screen display, 32GB memory (35 hours of music!), a 5 megapixel digital camera (with Carl Zeiss lens),  membership to the Nokia Music Store (which boasts 6 million songs and counting), and a whole lot more. Christmas really has come early here at That Grape Juice!

Want to be in with a chance of winning this amazing handset? Well, we’re doing things a little differently this time round. Together with Nokia Music, we are looking to compile a list of the best R&B/Hip-Hop/Pop albums of all-time. So, to be in with a shot, all you have to do is tell us which 3 albums you feel are the best of all-time. Simple as that. Check out mine below:

Sam’s Top 3 Albums of All-Time

1) Thriller – Michael Jackson

2) The Emancipation of Mimi – Mariah Carey

3) Velvet Rope – Janet Jackson

When submitting your choices, be sure to include your full name and email address.

Upon the post reaching 100+ entries, a draw to decide the winner (as well as runners-up…who will each win Nokia Music Store vouchers) will made on Sunday December 6th.

Good luck!

Singing sensation Leona Lewis performed current single ‘Happy’ on CNN Heroes, which aired last night. While her album ‘Echo’ has yet to move me (or buyers either, judging by its US sales), I’m really warming to ‘Happy’ – particularly after watching this performance. Emotive and perhaps the best live vocal rendition she’s given of the song yet, she really knocked it out of the park with this one. Great performance!

In other Leona news, ‘Outta My Head’ has been confirmed as her next European single, while ‘I Got You’ will serve as the follow-up to ‘Happy’ in the US.

What do you think of the performance?

After a tumultuous year, spurred on by ‘the incident’ which reverberated around the world, R&B star Chris Brown is back and looking to reassert his place at the top with new LP ‘Graffiti’ (due December 7th in the UK // December 8th US). With the world’s glaring eyes fixated on the performance of the project, it’d be hard to deny that this is the most important record the 20 year old will ever release. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the album, Brown’s 3^rd, boasts production from some the industry’s most renowned hit-makers and artists alike.

The question on the lips of many, though, is: Does ‘Graffiti’ do enough to redeem Brown in the court of public opinion? I vote ‘Yes!’, albeit cautiously…

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R&B star Alicia Keys performed a medley on the X-Factor a few minutes ago (see how quick we got you covered lol). The singer delivered a stellar live offering of ‘Empire State of Mind’, ‘Doesn’t Mean Anything’ and ‘No One’. As host Dermot O’Leary pointed out, Ms. Keys really gave us much bang for her buck…wasn’t expecting a medley at all. Great performance!

What do you think of the performance?

The new-look Sugababes took to the stage a few minutes ago at T4’s Stars of 2009 extravaganza at London’s Earls Court Arena. Put simply, their live big-spectacle showing of ‘About A Girl’ was probably their worst performance I’ve seen all year. I BS you not. Sloppy, sluggish and a sore sight, the performance really drove home of the fact that it really is curtains for this once credible group. Amelle looked like she’d rather be smoking a cigarette somewhere, Heidi was…Heidi (take from that what you will) and Jade didn’t come anywhere near as hard as she usually does – especially on the vocals. The addition of dancers to their act made the whole shabang even worse, as they only served to highlight how awful the ladies were at moving…

Hot Mess!

What do you think of the performance?

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While 2009 brought us much in the way of good music, it also served up great additions to the television spectrum – none more so IMO than ‘The Cleveland Show’.

A spin-off from popular Fox show ‘Family Guy’ (which I ironically have never watched a full episode of), ‘The Cleveland Show’ centres on the adventures of Peter Griffin’s neighbor Cleveland Brown. Many years ago, Cleveland (voiced by Keith Michael Richardson) made a promise to his old high-school sweetheart, Donna (voiced by Saana Lathan). After divorcing his wife, Cleveland, along with Cleveland Junior, move to Stoolbend, VA to start a new life with Donna and her two children – Roberta (voiced by Nia Long) and Rallo.

The show really is a must watch. Check out the series’ most recent episode above and let us know what you think. Would you like to see future episodes on That Grape Juice?

Your thoughts?