Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s ‘WAP’ may have soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its late August 2020 release, but now the 5x Platinum tune has landed atop the hit list of angry parents.

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Thanks to reigning over Billboard R&B charts with hits like ‘Giving You the Best That I Got,’ ‘Just Because,’ and ‘Body & Soul’ over her 40-year career, R&B icon Anita Baker has been dubbed the Queen of Quiet Storm.

And though she hasn’t released an album of new material since 2004, the ‘Sweet Love’ singer’s iconic catalog continues to get love from all ages on the likes of digital download outlets (iTunes, Apple Music) and streaming services (Spotify, Pandora, etc.).

For some artists that intergenerational reverence is just a dream, but for Baker – thanks to what could soon be a tumultuous legal battle – it’s a nightmare.

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Not even the combined forces of Beyonce, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Billie Eilish were enough to save this year’s Grammys from failing to attract viewers.

Early Nielsen ratings reports indicate a low tune-in for the Trevor Noah-hosted affair, which aired live Sunday night (March 14).

Indeed, despite boasting a slew of historic highs and unprecedented wins, the 63rd edition of music’s biggest night courted its lowest viewership figures ever – over 50% less than last year’s.

More inside:

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If the trailer is any indication, National Geographic is set to deliver a knockout biopic of Aretha Franklin with its forthcoming miniseries, ‘Genius: Aretha.’

Calling on GRAMMY, TONY, and EMMY-winning singer-actress Cynthia Erivo to transform into its titular character, the TV event – which premieres March 21 – will chronicle Franklin’s humble beginnings to her unprecedented rise to be crowned the ever-reigning Queen of Soul.

And while Erivo is lending her real singing voice to cover Aretha’s timeless hits, critics were particularly impressed with her spirited renditions of ‘Freeway of Love,’ ‘Jump to It,’ and ‘Chain of Fools.’  The latter is prominently placed in the latest trailer for the highly anticipated program.

Hear it inside:

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Doja Cat may have rendered one of the 2021 GRAMMY’s most epic performances Sunday night (March 14), but the rising Rap diva – who was nominated for three awards – went home empty-handed.

As fans continue to cry foul over her unceremonious shut out, there’s one detractor who isn’t exactly bummed she lost:  fellow femcee Azealia Banks.

More inside:

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Drake‘s dominance has long been undeniable and the Canadian MC has re-affirmed that in earnest.

For, this week he has made history on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Full story below…

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EMMY and Academy Award winner Regina King – one of the most decorated actresses of color in history – is no stranger to nabbing trophies for her stunning acting performances on the big and small screen.  As such, it should come as no surprise much of that critical fanfare followed her when she transitioned behind the camera to direct small screen ventures.

However, with her feature film directorial debut – Amazon Prime’s ‘One Night in Miami’ – King worked the Hollywood campaign trail aggressively in the project’s support.

That promotion may have led her to land a Best Director nod at the 2021 Golden Globes – usually a precursor for who will duke it out for the same title at the year’s Academy Awards – but apparently it didn’t go far with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Details inside:

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African giant Burna Boy left a formidable footprint on the 2021 GRAMMYs.

For, beyond rocking the Premiere Ceremony with a rousing medley, the Nigerian hitmaker took home the award for Best Global Music Album for his Diddy-produced LP ‘Twice As Tall.’

The performer’s seismic GRAMMY win comes on the heels of sold-out shows worldwide, a growing collection of classic jams, and a widely-praised contribution to fellow winner Beyonce’s compilation album ‘The Lion King: The Gift.’

That Grape Juice was on-hand at this year’s ceremony and caught up with the superstar who opened up about what the major achievement means to him and the African continent more broadly.

Check out chat with Burna above and be sure to let us know…

Your thoughts?

The 2021 GRAMMYs may have delivered a number of stunning wins, jaw-dropping snubs, and high octane stage performances, but few are getting the chatter given to Dua Lipa.

In addition to nabbing a victory in the Best Pop Vocal Album category for her sophomore LP, ‘Future Nostalgia’ (which marks her third GRAMMY win overall), Lipa left tongues wagging after her spirited stage showing – performing a medley of her hits ‘Levitating’ (alongside rapper DaBaby) and ‘Don’t Start Now.’

Viewers were particularly drawn to the latter portion of the medley it seems as the tune has popped to the top of Pop iTunes!

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Welcome to the latest
TGJ Roundtable!

Over the years, That Grape Juice has established a distinguished voice that – whether loved or loathed – sparks discussion, debate, and on occasion drama!

Though comprised of seasoned writers who share a similar outlook on Urban Pop culture, the idiosyncrasies of the TGJ team members often lend for quite heated debates “behind the scenes” about the hottest topics.

Now, we give you a front-row seat to the show. In a format similar to ‘The View’ or ‘The Real’, TGJ editors – Sam, Rashad, Joe, and Ryan – get real in a very candid way.

Today’s roundtable topic asks each anchor their thoughts on the…

GRAMMYs 2021

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Kanye West may have made headlines last year for urinating in one of his GRAMMYs (click here to read more), but apparently the shocking act didn’t piss off the Recording Academy.

Just four years after setting the record for “most nominations with no wins in a single night” (among males), the rapper-producer extraordinaire now boasts ownership of a historic total of golden gramophones.

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Warner Bros has unwrapped an extended look hotly anticipated movie ‘In The Heights’ during the 2021 GRAMMYs.

‘Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda helms the hotly anticipated musical, which first rose to prominence as a Tony winner on the theater circuit.

Anchored by Anthony Ramos (and co-starring Corey Hawkins and Dascha Polanco), the film unfolds over the course of three days and shares the story of a disappearing block in a culturally diverse neighborhood of Washington Heights in NYC.

Directed by Jon M. Chu (notable for ‘Crazy Rich Asians’), check out the latest trailer after the jump…

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