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Check out songstress Mariah Carey’s appearance on BET’s 106 & Park yesterday (October 22nd) to promote her new fragrance, ‘M By Mariah Carey’.

Mariah spoke with the Associated Press recently regarding her new album. Here’s what she had to say:

“It’s hard for me to sit here and talk about it without sounding like I’m bragging if I’m in love with it, but I’m in love with this album,” she says. “I think that having the success with the last record allowed me to have more freedom and just make records that I like. It’s kind of a really fun record” Mimi’s new CD is out on February 2008.

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I’m really hoping she comes with the goods. Sources are claiming that the album’s sound is somewhat different to her last effort, with several rappers reportedly featured. I guess, like the rest, we’ll have to wait to next February.

Your thoughts?

The third single from Chris Brown’s forthcoming album ‘Exclusive’, ‘With You’ has surfaced. Produced by Stargate, the song has a distinctive resemblance to Beyonce’s ‘Irreplaceable’ (hence similar to Rihanna’s ‘Hate That I Love You also) and doesn’t really blow me away. Having said that, the track is solid and has a lot of cross-over potential.

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Check out the vid above of the Queen of Hip Hop/Soul Mary J. Blige on the set of her new video ‘Just Fine’. Though a number of her fans appear to not be feeling the song, I’m really feeling it. Be sure to keep it locked on That Grape Juice for the vid (which, I must say, looks like it’s going to be good) which premieres this Friday (October 26th).

Any thoughts?

Sugababes & Patti Labelle – ‘Lady Marmalade’

Popular MTV reality show ‘Run’s House’ is back for it’s fourth season starting October 25th at 10pm. Though I feel the show to be overly-scripted at times, it is pretty entertaining and I will be tuning in whenever it starts over here in the UK.

Will you be tuning into the new season of ‘Run’s House’?

Since announcing the ‘N*gga’ as the title of his forthcoming album, rapper Nas has been facing mounting criticism from leaders in the black community including as Rev. Jesse Jackson. In light of the controversy, the ‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ rapper has modified the album’s title to ‘N*gger’ (from ‘N*gga’). Still, Nas – real name Nasir Jones – had choice words for his critics:

“I’m a street disciple,” Nas told MTV News. “I’m talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain’t got no business worrying about what the word ‘nigger’ is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them … I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox [News] . Never fall victim to the sh*t they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet.

“If Cornell West was making an album called Nigger, they would know he’s got something intellectual to say,” Nas continued. “To think I’m gonna say something that’s not intellectual is calling me a nigger, and to be called a nigger by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary.”
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With Nelly set to release his new album ‘Brass Knuckles’ on November 13th, the video for the set’s first single ‘Wadysname’ premiered yesterday. I’m really liking the song and this Chris Robinson directed video. The girls were really getting it some of the scenes! Jamaica (Laurie Ann’s replacement on Making The Band) choreographed the vid.

What do you think of the video?

It appeared as though 50 Cent was keeping a low profile since his highly-publicized loss to Kanye West in their September 11th chart showdown, however it seems he’s back to trash-talking. In the current issue of KING magazine, the G-Unit leader takes aim at Lil’ Wayne (again):

You went after Lil’ Wayne on “Part-Time Lover” with the rhyme “You make me want to kiss you like Baby do Wayne/And make you call me Daddy like Baby do Wayne/Damn, that shit sounds gay, it’s insane/I guess that’s the price a lil’ nigga pay for fame.” What’s that about?
I’ve already baited Lil’ Wayne to come on out so I can break his little neck. My consistency will break his neck the same way LL’s consistency broke Canibus’. Lil’ Wayne is a talented rapper but not a great songwriter. He has had great verses on other people’s projects, but they were not his complete ideas over production that he picked. He’s not marrying the right production and lyrics to make classic hit records.

But if he’s not coming after you, why bother him?
Why not break his neck? I got nothing else to do. If they set you up to believe you are in a situation you’re not actually in yet, then you go out there… See, he’s saying what he’s saying to Jay because Jay didn’t respond to him. I’m giving him something to work off. Is that one of 50’s laws? Yeah. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

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As many of you will have heard, rapper T.I. was arrested over the weekend on weapons charges (click here to read the full story) . T.I., real name, Clifford Harris, was due to perform at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Saturday, but was arrested and jailed just hours before his scheduled performance.

According to sources, the case against the rapper is pretty strong and a long jail sentence is a likelihood. The Atlanta native is set for a court hearing this coming Monday. Having served time in the slammer only a few years back, you’d think he’d know better.

Your thoughts?