This week’s edition of Best You Never Heard features  little known gems by Michael Jackson, Wyclef and Claudette Ortiz, Kirk Franklin and Teedra Moses.

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Michael Jackson – Unbreakable (ft. Notorious B.I.G)

While the world unsurprisingly gravitated toward Michael Jackson‘s classic songs in the wake of his death earlier this year, I found myself doing the same, yet also reaffirming my appreciation for his ‘newer’ music. Taken from 2001’s ‘Invincible’, Jackson’s last studio LP –  ‘Unbreakable’ stands as one of my favourite of his more recent offerings. Produced by Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins and featuring the late, great Notorious B.I.G, this epic piano-driven cut oozes funk, with a MJ’s trademark stamp on it. Without a doubt, had ‘hit’ written all over it; interestingly this was initially supposed to be a single (accompanied by a big budget video), however contractual disputes with his label Sony K.O’ed such plans. Tidbit: R&B star Brandy features on backing-vocals.

Listen:

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Wyclef & Claudette Ortiz – Dance Like This

Upon hitting ‘play’ on this one, many of you will immediately think back to Wyclef and Shakira‘s 2005 smash ‘Hips Don’t Lie’. Indeed, ‘Dance Like This’ (recorded a year earlier), which features former City High singer Claudette Ortiz on lead vocals, sounds almost identical to ‘Hips’ – only with different lyrics. With both produced by and featuring Wyclef, it appears he simply tweaked Claudette’s version, which featured on the soundtrack to ‘Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights’ (straight-to-DVD) for Ms. Shakira, Shakira. With ‘Hips’ blowing up and becoming the hit it did,  very few are in the know about the original – which I would argue is the better of the two versions; this primarily due to the superior vocals and all-round more logical lyrcial content. Randomness: Come to think of it, where the hell is Claudette, she’s so talented?

Listen:

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Kirk Franklin – How It Used To Be

I’m a sucka for ‘crossover’ Gospel tracks, and few come harder on that front than Kirk Franklin, particularly on ‘How It Used To Be’. Said to have been produced by hitmaker Bryan-Michael Cox, this stirring piano-ballad has a ‘knock’ that would see it sit comfortably beside Mary J’s ‘Be Without You’ and similar sounding songs. More over, however, the vocals and vocal arrangements cut deep, really evoking emotion. Great, great song.

Listen:

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Teedra Moses – Backstroke

Soulful songstress Teedra Moses served up an R&B classic in the form of her debut LP ‘Complex Simplicity’. As hard as I try, I cannot remember where I stumbled upon the CD, yet what I do remember quite vividly is playing it on my iPod one night in 2005, while laying in bed. The intention was to see what the growing underground buzz was about…let’s just say I started a love-affair with the album there and then, an affair which still holds strong today. A particular album stand-out is ‘Backstroke’, which is best described as sensuality epitomised. With it’s suggestive coos and convincing vocal delivery, this stands as testament to the undeniable talent that is Teedra Moses. Tidbit: Still waiting on her sophomore LP ‘The Young Lioness’!

Listen:

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Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

Pop icon Janet Jackson is currently doing the promotional rounds for her greatest hits compilation ‘Number Ones’.

Today she phoned in to Charlotte’s Power 98 to talk about a number of things, the most interesting of which was her confirmation that she is indeed single and that she and producer Jermaine Dupri are no longer an item, yet best friends – this after a 7 year  relationship. Jackson, 43, asserted that she ‘adores’ him.

Other highlights from the interview, which you can listen to in its entirety below, include her liking Rihanna’s music (eye-roll) and loving Alicia Keys’, praying for the latter to be successful when she broke into the industry. She also talked spoke on being a vegan, her career and much more. A great listen.

No matter what spin Ms. Jackson (if you’re nasty) puts on it, it’s really unfortunate they called it quits after so long 🙁

Your thoughts?

Your thoughts?

Your thoughts?

The Black Eyed Peas took over Saturday Night Live a few hours ago to perform some of their biggest hits – all of which are interestingly from their latest LP ‘The E.N.D’. While their newest material hasn’t stirred me in the way their previous hits have (‘Boom Boom Pow’ aside), I’m really happy for the success they’re having now, it’s very much deserved.

Meet Me Halfway

I Gotta Feeling

Boom Boom Pow

What do you think of the performances?

The drama that is the Pussycat Dolls‘ reality shows no sign of subsiding. Member Kimberly Wyatt has sensationally gone on record to reveal an apparent rift between herself and lead /only singer Nicole Scherzinger. According to Wyatt, she and Scherzinger have not spoken in months, effectively since the band went on ‘hiatus’. Here’s what she had to say:

“I haven’t seen Nicole at all. I stay in touch with the other girls but not with her. I did send her a couple of emails but I haven’t heard back.

I never really had the chance to do a lot on the creative side, but now I’m working on my own thing. I have no idea how long the break will be or if we will get back together” {Source}

Wow…you’ve got to love her honesty, which is rather refreshing in an age of media-trained responses and the same interview duplicated a million times over. While I’m sure there is a lot more to this Pussycat Dolls hoo-harr than meets the eye (i.e. why Nicole is continually pushed to the forefront when the public are sick of her), I can’t see how so publicly airing out their drama is going to allow anyone to believe any notion of solidarity they may try and fake should they ever come back. What’s funnier is that their creator Robin Antin seems hell-bent on insisting to anyone that will listen that the group is staying together, yet evidently things are crumbling apart for everyone to see. Denial, much?

Your thoughts?

You can now listen to snippets of Lady GaGa‘s hotly anticipated ‘The Fame Monster’ LP ahead of it’s November 23rd release (which as I’m typing I realise is the same day as Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ hits stores. Things that make you go ‘hmmm’).

In any case, judging by the clips…

Hit or Miss?

Peep this brief preview of the video for Shakira‘s Lil’ Wayne-assisted single ‘Give It Up To Me’. While I’ll reserve judgement until seeing the video in its entirety, it’s quite refreshing to the 32 year old (bet you didn’t know that LOL) engage in choreography in the traditional sense. Clip looks real cool.

Your thoughts?

That Grape Juice were one of a few select media outlets invited to the New York listening session for Lady GaGa’s hotly anticipated sophomore effort ‘The Fame Monster’, which took place last night. While I, Sam, am stationed in here in London, That Grape Juice is international baby, therefore our new New York correspondent Cherry was on hand to get all the juicy info. So without further ado, check out our preview of ‘The Fame Monster’ below (previously heard singles ‘Bad Romance’ and ‘Telephone are omitted for obvious reasons’):

Album Preview: The Fame Monster

There’s no question Pop phenomenon Lady Gaga has had an incredible year with the success of her debut album, ‘The Fame’, as well as the amazing, jaw-dropping, performances on various award and TV shows. Hence, it’s little surprise that Gaga serves up the hotness with her sophomore LP, ‘The Fame: Monster’.

The eight tracks range from mid-to-up-tempo beats, which are sure to find to comfort at any club, in the car or at a social outing.  Key producers on the ‘The Fame: Monster’ are RedOne, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Teddy Riley, Space Cowboy and her Interscope head Ron Fair. Lady Gaga wrote or co-wrote the entire album.

As mentioned in past interviews this album addresses the monsters that the 23 year old has encountered for the past 2 years as she’s travelled the world. These monsters (sex, love, loneliness, alcohol, death) are evident in the deliverance and execution of the lyrics on each song.

‘Alejandro’, which was written by RedOne and Lady Gaga and produced by RedOne, delivers a Spanish-tinged vibe over an Electro-Pop beat. The production and the flow of the song possess a distinct aura of 80s Madonna during her “Who’s That Girl” era.  This track will definitely appeal to an audience internationally. Some lyrics taken from the booklet:  You know that I love you boy * Hot like Mexico * Rejoice * At this point I’ve gotta choose * Nothing to lose* Don’t call my name * Don’t call my name * Alejandro.

‘Monster’, which was written by RedOne, Lady Gaga and Space Cowboy (produced by RedOne), unanimously received rave reviews. This song is a chart-topper, no ifs-buts-or-maybes! The beat is sick! It’s probably one of the hottest tracks I’ve heard in a long time. It kind of reminded me of a 80s, throwback Pop cut that will sure as anything be most requested at the clubs! The group loved it so much it had to play it more than once!  Lyrics include: I just wanna dance* But he took me home instead*  Uh-Oh there was a monster in my bed * We frenched kissed on a subway train * He tore my clothes right off * He ate my heart then he ate my brain.

The alternative Rock-meets-Bluesy track ‘Speechless’ showcases Lady Gaga’s vocal range. If you weren’t sure if she could actually sing this song proves she can! The guitar and piano mix is hot-fire and you can feel the passion in her vocal delivery. This song is more of a mid-tempo, yet it’s boasts a healthy balance from the other fast paced, dance-orientated tracks on the album. Lyrics include: I’ll never talk again* oh boy you’ve left me speechless * you’ve left me speechless*  and I’ll never love again.

Another real favourite of mine was ‘So Happy I Could Die’. Instantly ascertainable here is that she’s addressing her alcohol ‘monster’. The song was written and produced by Lady Gaga, RedOne and Space Cowboy. The production is very ‘GaGa’, in that it too is a dark, up-tempo which when released will be making a bee-line for the dance-floor. Lyrics include: Open up your heart and your mind to me * Just know when that glass is empty* that the world is gonna bend* Happy in the club with a bottle of red wine* Stars in our eyes cuz we’re having a good time* eh-eh* so happy I could die.

Two songs which didn’t rouse me as much were ‘Dance in the Dark’, written by Lady Gaga and Fernando Garibay (who produced the track as well) and ‘Teeth’ (produced by Teddy Riley). Much like the bulk of the album, Dance in the Dark, is unsurprisingly an up-tempo dance number, yet one which falls a little short in comparison to the LP’s stronger cuts. ‘Teeth’ had a soulful, bluesy vibe to it which kind of gave a nod to the swinging 20s era. Refreshing for GaGa, yet it’s questionable as to how much it actually works.

Important to stress here is that ‘The Fame Monster’ is a NEW album not a re-release of the ‘The Fame’ LP with additional tracks – as initially suggested by her team. It will be packaged in 3 different ways: an 8-track single disc ($7.99), Deluxe Edition to include tracks from The Fame ($18) and a Super Deluxe Edition which will include a lock of her hair weave ($95). ‘The Fame: Monster’ will be in stores November 23^rd and regardless which edition you purchase, you will not be disappointed!

Your thoughts?

Peep this behind the scenes look at the shooting of Rihanna‘s album packaging for ‘Rated R’. While Ms. Fenty’s artistic credibility is justifiably picked out more than not, she sure knows how to take a picture. I can’t say it enough, but she really would be better off a model.

Your thoughts?

‘Telephone’, the second of Lady GaGa and Beyonce‘s two collaborations (and GaGa’s follow-up to ‘Bad Romance’), surfaced shortly after the first a few minutes ago (I doubt it was a coincidence). In keeping things short and sweet, this is audio-fire! Everything from the production (courtesy of Darkchild), to each of their swaggers (especially Bey, who enlisted her ‘Diva’ flow). Bouncy and Crazy really are running things right now. The video for this really couldn’t come any sooner!

Hit or Miss?

‘Video Phone (Extended Mix)’, ‘the hotly anticipated duet between the hottest chicks in the game Beyonce and Lady GaGa, premiered literally moments ago.

Initially a little disappointed in that it sounded exactly the same as the original, by the time  GaGa’s verse kicked in I was sold LOL. GaGa channelled the same swagger and rode the beat with ease (although her part did sound kinda ‘phoned-in’ – no pun intended). Hearing this has me salivating for the video even more (it will apparently premiere November 23rd); after all, Bouncy and Crazy really do seem to make a great combo.

Tidbit: You can so tell there will be a serious dance-break!

Hit or Miss?