Donnie - 'Take You There'As Making The Band 4 wraps up yet another season, many are probably wondering about the status of Donnie’s project. After all, both of the groups – Danity Kane and Day26 – have released their albums this month. Word has it, Donnie’s album will drop in August and will be lead by this new track titled ‘Take You There’.
The song, which features Diddy, has a distinct funk feel to it. I’m really liking the production, the arrangements etc. A solid track, for sure. However, there is a problem; I don’t ‘believe’ Donnie. Something about all of the material I’ve heard thus far sounds kinda forced/contrived. Whilst his Making The Band co-stars seem to have a stamp on their respective sounds, I get a ‘sing whatever is given to me’ vibe from Donnie. Perhaps, its due to the way he’s been portrayed on the show so far, I don’t know. Whatever the case, at this point, I’m thinking Diddy should have given one of the other group rejects a solo deal instead of Donnie. Time will tell if he proves the naysayers wrong…

Hit or Miss?
Estelle's 'American Boy' Hits #1!Estelle’s international smash ‘American Boy’ has raced to the top of the Official UK Singles Chart – earning the Londoner her first #1. The single, which features rapper Kanye West, dethroned Duffy’s ‘Mercy’ – which had been a fixture at the top of the chart for the past four weeks. Madonna’s ‘4 Minutes To Save The World’ was the highest new entry at #7.
I’m ecstatic that Estelle finally ‘got hers’…it’s been a long time in the making. I’ve been following her since her debut ‘1980’ and it’s real rewarding – even as a supporter – to see her getting the recognition she deserves. Onwards and upwards from here…

Any thoughts?

The ladies of Danity Kane continued along the promo trail for their new album ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’ by stopping at BET’s 106 & Park yesterday. Upon being prompted to give an acapella rendition of their hit ‘Damaged’, the girls proceeded to absolutely nail it. As a group, IMO they are vocally (and in every other way) really head and shoulders above their competition (i.e. Pussycat Dolls…remember them?).

Your thoughts?

Michelle Williams Preps 'Unexpected' According to Billboard.com, Michelle Williams’ new album has been titled ‘Unexpected’ and is slated for an August release via Music World/Columbia. Check out their preview of the album, as well as the confirmed tracklist:

“Unexpected” boasts production from Stargate, Rico Love, the Heavyweights, Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton and SoulShock & Karl. “We Break the Dawn” is the first single, set to drop in April, while the Stargate-produced “Stop This Car” is the second.

The set features pulsating beats on “Lucky Girl,” where Williams uses a vocoder; “The Greatest,” utilizes a martial drum pattern and a winding piano riff; the “Pump Up the Jam”-esque “Private Party;” and the Heavyweights-produced “Thank You,” where Williams sings, “While you were out getting yours, boy I was getting mine / I want to thank you for the times you cheated on me.”

Official Tracklist:

1) Hello Heartbreak
2) We Break Tthe Dawn
3) Lucky Girl
4) The Greatest
5) Til the End of the World
6) Private Party
7) Stop This Car
8) Unexpected
9) Thank You
10) Too Young for Love

I’m real amped for Michelle’s record. August is quite a way away, but I guess they’re looking to drop two singles before the album is released.

Remember folks, That Grape Juice’s interview with Michelle is right around the corner. Have a question for her? Click here to submit them

Your thoughts?

{Video Removed As Requested}

The video for newcomer Teyana Taylor’s single ‘Google Me’ premiered yesterday. A protegee of Pharrell Williams, Teyana’s debut has generated quite a buzz. The song is the first single to be lifted from Taylor’s LP ‘From A Planet Called Harlem’ (due May 20th). About the video, I’m really liking its concept, as it ties in well with the song. Saying that, the execution could have been a bit better – something about the vid comes across kinda cheap-looking. Still, Teyana’s unique sing/rap combination on her track(s) makes for her to be a breath of fresh air in an increasingly ‘samey’ industry. Tidbit: did you spot the cameo by a certain ‘O’ singer?

What do you think of the song / video?

UK singer Estelle stopped by BBC Radio 1’s ‘Live Lounge’ to perform her current smash ‘American Boy’. I really enjoyed this performance and I’m glad she’s finally receiving the recognition she deserves both here at home and in the US too. According to the mid-week charts, ‘American Boy’ is on-course to hit number 1 on the Official UK Singles Chart this Sunday – a career first for the West Londoner.

What do you think of the performance?

Ciara UpdateAccording to Billboard, Ciara is currently in the studio recording her third as-yet-untitled album, which is tentatively slated for either August or early September release. Danja, The Clutch, Polow Da Don and T-Pain are just some of the names who have submitted tracks for the project.
The ‘Promise’ singer is also still filming her role as the lead in the film adaptation of the stage play ‘Mama, I Want to Sing.’ Co-starring legend Patti LaBelle, the movie is expected to hit theaters across the US later this year. {Source}

I’m amped to see what Ciara will be serving up on her next project. Despite her sophomore effort ‘The Evolution’ not really showing much evolution in terms of her sound (See: ‘That’s Right), her artistic growth on all other fronts (i.e. vocally, choreography, video etc) is hard to deny IMO.

Any thoughts?

Mariah Carey - 'E=MC²' Cover Here is the official cover for Mariah Carey’s forthcoming new album ‘E=MC²’, which hits stores April 15th. I’m not liking it. The cover is actually a mess IMO; she looks like an ostrich with that dress or whatever she’s holding. The font doesn’t really mix with the background either. Just, no. Granted it’s just a cover, Mariah has kinda disappointed me on all fronts this time around (so far) – songs, performance-wise and now this. I’m really hoping her album will be serving up more than what I’ve heard already, as it would be a shame to go from the brilliance that was ‘The Emancipation’ to…well…this.

What do you think of the cover?
Check out this video of BET host and former America’s Next Top Model contestant, Toccara, going nuts on a recent episode of ‘Celebrity Fit Club’:

Whoa! She was really heated. According to many who watch the show, Toccara has been singled out by the judges and picked on constantly. I guess one can only take so much. Haven’t watched the show myself, but her body was looking g-o-o-d.

Any thoughts?

Singer/songwriter Keri Hilson is set release her debut album ‘In A Perfect World’ this summer. Check out this promotional video, in which Keri is captured during a photoshoot for the record:

I’m really amped for Keri’s album, as I’ve been patiently awaiting its release for the last two or so years now. With the exposure and success that came with Keri’s features on a number of Timbaland’s singles, including the chart-topping ‘The Way I Are’, there’s no time better than now IMO to launch her record. Random point: For those who didn’t know, Keri is also apart of the writing collective The Clutch, who have penned hits for the likes of Usher, Mary J. Blige and Britney Spears.

Are you checking for Keri Hilson?

Seemingly out of nowhere, the latest single from Rihanna ‘Take A Bow’ premiered this morning on Ryan Seacrest’s ‘On Air’ radio show on 102.7 KIIS FM Los Angeles. The mid-tempo R&B/Pop cut, from the re-release of ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ (due May 27th), is pretty much standard ‘Rihanna’ fare, so nothing groundbreaking here. Having said that, the 20 year old’s ‘studio’ vocals seem to have matured and she holds her own vocally on the track more so on this than I’ve heard before. It’ll be interesting to see if she can pull this off live….

Hit or Miss?

Now, my rant. How in the hell is she releasing another album already?! Before the stans chew me out; yes, it’s almost a year since ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ was released, but considering she’ll likely be dropping the album soon after her ongoing tour (in support of her current record), it’ll still IMO be a case of ‘Rihanna dropping an album every 5 minutes’. Not even the arguably ‘over-exposed’ Beyonce drops albums so frequently. I doubt a new Rihanna record, at this stage, will offer any real artistic growth…just more microwavable nonsense. SMH… All of this still applies…

Your thoughts?

Check out this video of Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson singing ‘Stand Up’, a track that may be featured on her much-anticipated debut album, in her bathroom lol:

Wow! That was my first time hearing the track and I’m literally blown away. A-mazing…she really nailed it. With the ‘Dreamgirls’ hype having subsided, this really reminded me of why the anticipation is so high for Jennifer’s album. I’m hoping the song gets a placement on the final tracklisting. Random note: the guy in the video with her is her boyfriend James Payton – who she has been dating since 1999.

Any thoughts?

**