Persistence.

It’s a trait Christina Milian is clearly acquainted with.

For, almost ten years have passed since she last released a studio album (2006’s ‘So Amazin’). A slew of scrapped albums and record deals followed, but that didn’t quell the songbird’s desire for a chart return.

Armed with the ratings success of her E! reality show and a strategic partnership with Lil Wayne, Milian is gearing up a release a four-track EP titled ‘4U’ on December 4th.

Today saw the debut of the set’s lead single ‘Like Me’ featuring Snoop Dogg. 

Take a listen below…

(more…)

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 tip our hats to ‘Exhale (Shoop Shoop),’ the 11th and last Hot 100 chart-topper of music’s premier diva Whitney Houston.

Lifted from the ‘Waiting To Exhale’ soundtrack (which celebrated its 20th anniversary this month), the tune delivered Whit’s first ever #1 debut on the tally – a feat added to her already impressively decorated Hot 100 resume. Knocking then “rival” Mariah Carey down to #2, ‘Shoop’ may have known brief tenure at the top (as Carey returned to #1 the week after with her record-breaking hit ‘One Sweet Day’), but it still made its mark on record books for having the longest run at #2 in the history of the Billboard Hot 100.

Tuck in below and tell us your fave song from the top 25 of Billboard’s Hot 100 this week in 1995…

(more…)

As one of R&B’s brightest stars Tamar Braxton had good reason to have high hopes for her latest studio album ‘Calling All Lovers.’

Alas, those hopes did little to convince the general public to support the album when it was released leaving her with one of the lowest opening week numbers in the genre’s recent history.

Now, she has shared fresh thoughts on the matter.

(more…)

The Adele ’25’ era is officially upon us.

Today marks the global release of the British superstar’s third opus and, as expected, an all-out media campaign has been launched.

A highly touted stint on Saturday Night Live tomorrow is one of the centre-pieces of the project’s blast-off.

To plug Adele’s appearance and performance, NBC have released a humorous promo – starring the evening’s host actor Matthew McConaughey.

Watch below, where a number of ‘Hello’ jokes await …

(more…)

Anyone for some ‘Breakfast?’

With new single ‘Sax’ a bonafide hit, Fleur East serves up another taste of her delicious debut album ‘Love, Sax and Flashbacks.’

Anticipation is sky-rocketing for the LP (which is due December 4th) and we’re not surprised.

We’ve heard much of the set and it’s everything anyone who watched her ascend on the X Factor could have hoped for. Funky, fresh, and fundamentally current. ‘Breakfast’ being another stellar example.

Tuck in below…

(more…)

The Ciara Express returned to Atlanta, Georgia yesterday were the singe stopped by to meet with fans at a Topshop store after she became one of the company’s ambassadors!

There, she rubbed shoulders with her supporters and expressed her admiration for the company which is supporting the second leg of her latest tour before she returns to the studio to create fresh musical magic for her ever faithful C Squad.

Snaps from the event (held at Lenox Square mall) below…

(more…)

It’s time to get all kinds of excited!

Like we reported here, R&B veteran Monica is declaring ‘code red’ for the competition on December 18th as she is set to unveil her 8th official LP, much to the delight of fans.  Kicking things off with the head-bopping ‘Just Right For Me’ featuring Lil’ Wayne, now it appears its follow-up – the album’s title track – is just right for the clubs!

Taking it right to the dancefloor with long-time collaborator Missy Elliott, the Polow da Don-produced number is sure to inspire a pop, lock, and drop or two amongst club regulars!  Don’t take our word for it, find out for yourself:

(more…)

They’ve got the style, they’ve got the substance…but more importantly Louis York has the soul.

Still riding high from hits penned and produced for Rihanna, Jessie J & Christina Aguilera the dynamic video have released the lyric video for their latest single ‘Nerds.’

In it, they address racism and injustice head on and continue to carve out a clean lane for themselves as one of music’s only socially conscious acts serving just as much political fire as they are Pop fun.

Watch and learn something below…

(more…)

After enduring the muckiest and messiest year of career, Rihanna finally seems ready to unleash her long-awaited eighth album ‘ANTI.’

Moments ago a mysterious website was launched titled ‘ANTIDIARY.’

Details below…

(more…)

All roads lead to December 18th for R&B maven Monica.

‘Code Red,’ the Grammy winner’s eighth studio album, struts into stores on said date and it’s being billed as her strongest body of work in years.

The LP is preceded by ‘The Code Red Experience Tour,’ which will play to audiences across 22 US cities by the time it wraps on December 13th.

Lead single ‘Just Right For Me (ft. Lil Wayne)’ generated a healthy buzz. Wondering what other songs will join the set? All is revealed after the jump…

(more…)

Rising star Tinashe scales high into the sky in the video for new single ‘Party Favors.’

Unleashed moments ago, the visual is the latest to be lifted from the performer’s sophomore album ‘Joyride,’ which pulls into stores on January 8th 2016.

The clip follows that of the Chris Brown assisted ‘Player,’ which is steadily climbing the ranks at Pop radio.

Can ‘Party’ do its thing on its targeted format (Urban)? Time will tell.

In the here and now, though, watch its video below…

(more…)

The late Maya Angelou was honoured by the rapper Nicki Minaj yesterday evening at the Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The event was launched to raise awareness around America’s issues with race and saw Minaj pay tribute to the artist by performing her poem ‘Still I Rise’, also the name of one of the rapper’s better known numbers from her critically acclaimed mixtape ‘Beam Me Up Scotty.’

Press play to hear Maya through Minaj below…

(more…)