Fickle.

Thanks to the music industry’s fickle nature, ‘seasoned’ acts oft find their positions in today’s world questioned at the first sight of a younger, hotter and seemingly more exciting alternative.

In 2006, much to the horror of both she and then partner Jermaine Dupri, the campaign for Janet Jackson‘s ’20 Y.O’ found itself dominated by a then 25 year old Beyonce, as the media questioned Jackson’s ability to compete with the stage-blazing chart topper.

Indeed, by way of the comparisons, the album’s trend-kissing material and 2004’s ‘Super Bowl’ fiasco, ‘20′ cowered in the face of ‘B’, selling 297,000 units in first week…two weeks after the latter moved 541,000 copies in the very same market.

Then, Dupri sought out to remind the world that the ladies ‘weren’t on the same plane‘, and now- eight years later- history repeats itself.

Whose legacy Jermaine has been forced to defend this time? Mariah Carey‘s.

Hit the 29 minute mark to find out why below…

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Ever keen to broaden our musical scope, recent months have seen That Grape Juice venture into a number of new musical landscapes including, most recently, gospel.

Spearheaded by well-received interviews with gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker, Twinkie Clark, Fred Hammond, Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp, Micah Stampley, Joshua Rogers, and more, TGJ is now offering readers ‘The Overflow’ – a collection of the top gospel-themed news stories from the week.

Tuck in below for the latest news on Erica Campbell, Smokie Norful, Leandria Johnson, Sheri-Jones Moffett, Mali Music, Zie’l, Tye Tribbett, and more:

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Though she’s never had trouble moving units, it would seem Beyonce has unearthed a new found power in streaming, unleashed once her latest album hit iTunes, December 13th 2013.

Indeed, released after Billboard announced streaming data would factor into ‘Billboard Hot 100′ chart positions, the singer’s self-titled new album has seen views garnered on VEVO and units sold on the likes of iTunes force singles ‘Drunk in Love’ and ‘Partition’ to Top Twenty glory.

Now, as Rihanna & Ciara whip up material for their new albums, Bey has seen the aforementioned ‘Partition’ take the net by storm!

Find out how below…

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Summer 2014 may be bringing with it a new album from the R&B royal, Spring Break 2014 went a long way to tease Trey Songz’ forthcoming release with a performance from the singer.

Arriving at Oasis Cancun Resort in Cancun, Mexico for the mtvU event, the singer/actor brought the heat on stage with a performance we’re billing one of his best to date.

Why we’re hoping his new material lives up to the fire that awaits you after the jump?

Hit the play button below!

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Unfamiliar with the name Jonathan McReynolds?  We’re sure if that is the unfortunate case, after tonight’s BET “Celebration of Gospel”, that’s sure to change.

Touted as the next big star in contemporary gospel, the guitar-wielding ‘No Gray’ singer has been winning the hearts of music lovers for the past two years with his refreshingly smooth crooning that doesn’t slack on vocal chops, inspirational lyrics, and unique acoustic sensibilities.

A sonic delight with a relatable voice that fuses solid songwriting with ministry, the surprisingly humble hitmaker sat down with That Grape Juice recently for a few one on one questions.

As ever, this is one you don’t want to miss!  Get to know Mr. McReynolds below:

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As the forthcoming arrival of her first child sees her pen a new chapter in her life’s story, Lil Kim takes a journey to the past this month, doing so alongside ‘Billboard.’

For, as to celebrate the positive impact she made on pushing Rap music to the forefront of Pop culture in her prime, the publication caught up with the icon to reflect on her career, assessing her classic albums with the benefit of hindsight and the current line-up of female rappers.

Wise words from the ‘Espacio’ siren below…

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Fresh from celebrating his 41st birthday the evening prior, an ever-youthful Pharrell Williams kept the festivities going by performing on Saturday Night Live.

Currently riding high with new album ‘G.I.R.L’, Skateboard P raised the roof with a rousing showing of smash hit single ‘Happy’. The Neptunes star also performed the project’s second single ‘Marilyn Monroe’. Check out all the action below…

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After a relatively long spell out of the spotlight, Keri Hilson is readying a chart comeback.

The singer-songwriter, whose last album ‘No Boys Allowed’ was released way back in 2010, is cooking up her third studio effort and has called on R&B’s creme de la creme to help her craft it.

Case, point, her sessions this week with htmakers Rico Love and Jim Jonsin.

The duo, who are responsible for hits such as ‘Motivation’ by Kelly Rowland and Beyonce’s ‘Sweet Dreams ‘, shared shots of themselves working with Hilson on the long-awaited project.

Jonsin added the caption: Great Music and Spirits with @dreamincolor@iamricolove 

Are you as amped as we are to hear what they’ve been working on? Peep more pics below and let us know…

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R&B star Ciara will be welcoming her first child in a mere matter of weeks. However, it hasn’t stopped the pregnant singer from stepping out and supporting a cause that benefits the children of others.

The ‘Body Party’ performer shared the shots of herself arriving at a Safe Kids Day fundraiser in Los Angeles today.

Sporting a luminous glow, it’s clear Ci – who is engaged to rapper Future – where’s pregnancy oh so well.

Peep another snap after the jump…

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Undeterred.

That’s exactly what Pop phenom Lady GaGa appears to be following the so-so sales of latest album ‘ARTPOP’.

Though hailed for featuring some of the star’s best work yet (pours out a lil liquor for ‘Do What U Want’), the set was marred by departed management, a video-less second single, and a turn in the tide of public favor.

And yet, still, the singer is gearing up to share more from the ‘ART’ sessions. And “soon”.

Details below…

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Mariah Carey‘s new album may no longer be called ‘The Art Of Letting Go’, yet doing just that seems to be proving a difficult task for the diva.

For, despite being due on May 6th (a date we remain skeptical of), the LP is still being worked on – as revealed by Mimi herself on Instagram moments ago and over the course of this week.

The shot above was posted today with the caption “Prepping tracks for mixing”, while other snaps shared included a studio session with rapper Fabolous.

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Granted we’re all for Mimi’s hustle, which appears to see her still recording tracks in search of a hit, it begs the question of whether the album will actually see the light of day next month. Deadlines are real and, for ‘major” releases such as this, are meant to be a significant amount of time before the project hits stores.

In any case, we remain amped to see what Mimi’s been cooking up. As evidenced by her ‘Emancipation’ era, “new” Mariah seems to deliver her best when the odds are stacked against her. That said, that aforementioned album came out nine years ago. Will it be a case of history repeating itself for the better or is Ms. Carey’s time as a contemporary chart-topper a wrap? Hopefully, it’s the former. Still, time will tell.

Take a listen to ‘You’re Mine (Eternal)’ below. It could do with the streams.

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For decades, the music industry has found itself accused of having a biased against acts of ethnic origin, whose ideas are shunned and billed unappealing when fronted by themselves, but embraced and welcomed when ‘borrowed’ by their more ‘traditional’ counterparts.

Today, as he begins work on his latest studio album, Justin Bieber is accused of using Hip Hop culture to further his career by ‘Original Man‘ Lord Jamar, who accuses the star of glorifying a culture rappers are oft penalised for embracing to appear edgy to his core audience.

His words below…

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