In a realm where Cher, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and more major musical maestras over 40 are redefining what it means to be an “aging pop star,” Gwen Stefani suggests her age is the reason her career is nearing the “end of its journey.”

The ‘Hollaback Girl’ hitmaker – whose last studio album, ‘This Is What the Truth Feels Like,’ debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in 2016 (despite its singles’ lack of impact on the Hot 100) – is gearing up for a highly anticipated Vegas residency at the Zappos Theater at the Planet Hollywood Resort set for kick off next month (click here to read more about that). Ahead of the show’s debut, Stefani took to press to not only dish on the endeavor but also talk about its perfect timing due to her duties of being a mom and…umm…her age bringing her career to a close.

Sparking rumors of retirement almost instantly, read her words inside:

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R&B maestro Maxwell is renown for his elusiveness, shunning the limelight when not in music mode.

Well, it looks like another return is nigh.

Find out why below…

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Welcome to The Sip episode 9 on That Grape Juice!

In our new podcast series, hosts PatricklySpeakn and StephYoungMC run down the latest entertainment news from TGJ and beyond.

This week we sip on all things Billboard Music Awards – including Janet Jackson‘s performance and Normani‘s breakout moment. We also dish on new music videos from Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez. This plus a whole lot more!

Drink up — and be sure to let us know what YOU think! What are you liking? What do you want to hear more of? Let us know below!

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Your thoughts?

NeNe Leakes of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ has revealed that she would welcome the return of the show’s supposed villain Phaedra Parks weeks before production on the show’s eleventh season kicks off.

However, she did issue one warning.

What it was?

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Azealia Banks is disgusted by Kanye West‘s decision to exploit Whitney Houston‘s alleged drug addiction for profit and publicity.

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Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature carved out to celebrate TV and Film’s glorious past.

Today, following her stellar performance at the ‘Billboard Music Awards‘, we revisit Janet Jackson’s ‘Janet’ era and pull footage shot from the making of her ‘If’ video from beneath the sands of time.

In the footage below you’ll see Jan and her clan of creatives create what may be her most celebrated piece of art to date in preparation for the album’s supporting tour.

Press play…

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‘The Real Housewives Of Potomac’ have been drumming up all sorts of buzz with their third season. 

Past instalments have seen etiquette serve as the center of conflict. However, the show’s third cycle has seen the drama between the Maryland matriarchs escalate like never before.

‘Potomac’ originals Gizelle Bryant, Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, and Robyn Dixon are back in the mix. As is last season’s addition Monique Samuels.

No nonsense newcomer Candiace Dillard (a former Miss America) has been cast as a full time Housewife – replacing Charrisse Jackson-Jordan who has been appearing in a “Friend Of” capacity.

Thus far, the show’s third outing has made for gripping viewing – so much so that many have pegged it the best Housewives franchise thus far this year.

And, per a newly released midseason trailer, there’s still a whole lot more to come.

Check it out below…

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The flavoursome sound of AfroBeats is drumming up buzz on a global scale; a buzz that packs too much volume to be ignored.

Celebrating the seismic movement is the AfroRepublik festival, which is taking place London’s iconic O2 Arena.

A sold-out extravaganza, the line-up features a who’s who of the AfroBeats scene including Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Not3s, Mr Eazi, and more.

With the out of the gate success of its inaugural instalment, the festival is already confirmed for a huge return next year.

Pending then, watch the 2018 AfroRepublik extravaganza live here on That Grape Juice!

Your thoughts?

A superteam of Hip Hop acts joined forces to help rapper YG deliver the banging anthem, ‘Big Bank.’

Tapping the likes of Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, and 2 Chainz to assist, the DJ Mustard-produced cut comes as the latest single from YG’s forthcoming third LP, ‘Stay Dangerous.’

Get into it below:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week we want to replay ‘I Know What You Want’ – the 2003 duet from Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey.  The second single from Rhymes’ 2002 project, ‘It Ain’t Safe No More,’ the tune – released in March 2003 – was a much-needed hit for the rapper and the then-ailing songstress as it peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year).  For Busta, the song helped revive interest in its parent album as ‘I Know What You Want’s single predecessor, ‘Make It Clap,’ failed to make much noise on the Hot 100 (peaking at #46).  For Carey, the sales and radio performance of ‘Want’ came as a return to form after a particularly low period in her career following the commercial failures of albums ‘Glitter’ and ‘Charmbracelet’ respectively.  

The ‘Butterfly’ singer would later soar back even higher heights on the charts in the years that followed, but Rhymes couldn’t exactly sing the same tune.  Though he scored two top 10 hits betwen 2005-2012 thanks to his co-starring role on the Pussycat Dolls’ signature hit, ‘Don’tcha,’ and Chris Brown‘s comeback ‘Look at Me Now’ respectively, ‘Want’ became Busta’s last Hot 100 top 10 entry as a leading act to date.

Look inside to relive the Rick Rock-produced cut and see who joined them in the top 25 this week 15 years ago:

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‘Empire’ may have wrapped its fourth season Wednesday (May 23), but Jussie Smollett is busier the ever.

The 34-year-old actor/producer/singer is putting that latter hat into high gear in support of his long-awaited debut album, ‘Sum of My Music.’  With a world tour underway (click here to see dates), Smollett – alongside Stateside supporting act June’s Diary – took to ‘The Real’ recently to not only dish on the venture but also give prospective concertgoers a taste of what to expect.

Look inside to see them perform ‘Hurt People’ from ‘Sum of My Music’:

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Drake‘s new album is titled ‘Scorpion’ and ahead of its arrival, he’s already showing his sting.

The Hip-Hop titan has unleashed  the ‘Duppy Freestyle’ – a diss aimed at Pusha T, who himself slammed Drizzy on ‘Infrared’ – a new song from his freshly released album ‘Daytona.’ He charged the Canadian star with using a ghostwriter.

Clearly unimpressed, Aubrey picks apart the former Clipse member with ferocity and declares that his “demise will be televised.’

But that’s not all. He also had words for Pusha’s G.O.O.D Music comrade and exec producer Kanye West.

Referencing’s Ye’s creative partner Virgil Abloh, Drake rapped:

“I could never have a Virgil in my circle and hold him back ’cus he makes me nervous. I wanna see my brothers flourish to a higher purpose. You n*ggas leeches n’ serpents. I think it’s good that now the teachers are learning.”

What are you waiting for? Listen to ‘Duppy Freestyle’ in full below…

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