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 lends to 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,’ 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…
From The Vault is back this week with one of our favorite R&B starlets.
Today’s pick comes courtesy of the talented Mya with her 2003 effort ‘Fallen.’
Issued as the second single from the performer’s third album ‘Moodring’, the song sampled Hip-Hop classic ‘Runnin’’ by The Pharcyde, which itself was built around a sample of Bossa Nova jam ‘Saudade Vem Correndo’ by Luiz Bonfà.
Following the home run that was ‘Lady Marmelade’, ‘Moodring’ in many ways was designed to take Mya to the next level. The album’s first single – the Missy Elliott-produced ‘My Love Is Like Wo’ – was a Top 20 hit but for some incomprehensible reason ‘Fallen’ failed to make an impact on the Billboard Hot 100/ Indeed, it peaked right outside of the Top 50 at #51.
The video for the tune finds the songstress in besotted mode, following a guy she’s crushing over around New York City. From the newsstand in the morning to his bathtub in the evening. Directed by Darren Grant, aspects of the clip would be borrowed in Rihanna’s ‘What’s My Name?’ visual years later – a video that followed the then-red-haired beauty from sunrise to sunset around the Big Apple.
Sadly, ‘Fallen’ remains Mya’s last single to chart on the Hot 100.
Until this day, we’re perplexed at what prevented the entertainer from being one of the biggest names in music (commercially speaking). From the talent to the songs and the look, she had it all in earnest. Some say politics others ponder the product. For us, it will forever remain a mystery.
Thankfully, she has been able to experience success in different ways since then. Indeed, she embarked on an independent journey and released several successful albums for the Japanese market. She even snagged a GRAMMY nomination for her critically-acclaimed seventh LP ‘Smoove Jones’. As is increasingly becoming the case in the contemporary climate, success is relative and Mya has emerged as a textbook example of how.
She – alongside the Tinashes and Dawn Richards of the world – stands as a true testament that in the music industry there are many ways to win if you are ready to explore them.
Set to air tonight live from LA’s Microsoft Theater, the show promises a host of must-see moments as it welcomes back live audiences for the first time since the global health crisis.
To celebrate this year’s installment of Culture’s Biggest Night (which boasts the theme ‘Year of the Woman’), That Grape Juice is counting down our Top BET Awards Moments from past ceremonies.
What are you waiting for? Check our picks out below…
Despite opening to rave reviews from industry critics, ‘Good to Know’ – JoJo‘s May 2020-released fourth studio album (and inaugural offering on her own imprint) – did not see that acclaim mirrored commercially as the set is her first to premiere outside of the top 10 on the Billboard 200 (as we reported here).
Undeterred, the GRAMMY winner breathed new life into the LP by unveiling an entire acoustic version of it in July.
Now, just a month later, she’s extending it another lifeline by repackaging its content for a deluxe edition.
Expanding the 11-song project to a 15-song effort, the deluxe edition also calls on help from her celebrity friends as Demi Lovato, Tinashe, and Tory Lanez (although later removed due to his Megan Thee Stallion controversy as we reported here) are among the set’s high profile features.
Is the reissue just what’s needed to send ‘Good’ to the Billboard heights known by its predecessor? Listen inside and tell us:
‘Breathe Again’ beauty Toni Braxton has breathed new life into her timeless classic, ‘Unbreak My Heart,’ thanks to a stirring performance at Sunday’s American Music Awards (November 24).
Backed by a stringed orchestra, the diva’s dramatic, winter wonderland take on the Diane Warren-penned tune not only made her one of the night’s most talked about performers, but has also reignited interest in the song 23 years after its release.
On January 28th 2018 the stars will descend upon New York City to attend the 60th annual Grammy Awards.
Today, months before then, Beyonce has revealed that she hopes bag an award or two on the night by submitting new material to its committee for their consideration.
Fans may have thought Grammy-nominated songstress Keyshia Cole had literally reached the ‘point of no return’ when her 2014 album of the same name not only delivered the lowest first week sales of her career to date (read more about that by clicking here), but went on to clock the lowest overall sales of any of her previous efforts. A harsh blow for an otherwise consistent seller, especially amongst her Urban counterparts, the nonperformance of the LP – in addition to a host of personal dramas – acted as catalysts for the R&B chanteuse to go back to the drawing board and regroup.
After the two years that followed ‘Return’ rendered rumored singles and reported few false starts, the late 2016 announcement of the singer’s relocation to Epic Records signaled the surest sign of a full on return. Lo and behold, by February 2017, Cole put the rumors to rest by officially lifting the lid on her long-awaited new single – ‘You’ (featuring rappers Remy Ma & French Montana)…
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, David, Rashad, and Joe – get real in a very candid way.
