This week saw Missy Elliott honored at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards!
The industry visionary was this year’s recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Moonman for her immeasurable impact visually and sonically.
That Grape Juice was on-hand on the red carpet and spoke with the likes of Wyclef Jean, Kash Doll, Mona Scott-Young, and more about her colossal contributions to music and culture.
Check out all the action from the Prudential Center above.
From The Vault is back this week with a classic that taught music industry’s tastemakers an important lesson. Notably that when the music is undeniable, age really ain’t nothing but a number.
Today’s pick is Tina Turner’s iconic ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’
Released in 1984 as the third single from comeback album ‘Private Dancer,’ ‘Love’ stands as the artist’s signature song and is among pop culture’s most celebrated tunes.
Written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, the track was sent to many artists such as Donna Summer and Phyllis Hyman before landing on Turner’s lap.
Exactly 35 years ago, the track hit #1 on the US Hot 100, her first and only chart topper to this day. It also managed to land inside the Top 3 of the Australian, German and British charts.
The song’s equally memorable video was directed by Mark Robinson and follows a striking Tina around New York City as she engages with the various street dancers she meets along the way.
It was also one of the premier outings of her trademark legs and “that” rockstar hair-do.
With this very song, Turner defied all the odds and became one of Pop’s hottest commodities… aged 44.
Which goes to show: with the right material, the right team, and perhaps the right alignment of luck – mature acts can secure a seat at the Pop table.
Thanks to this song and its parent album, Tina went on to become a legend in her own right.
If there’s a potent take-away for some of the older acts of today it’s that: rebranding is key. Turner managed to update her artistic narrative, making way for a contextually relevant sound – which still felt like “her” – and a more refined look that never saw her lose her flair.
Obviously, a million names pop in our heads when thinking about which veteran artists we’d like to see enjoy a chart resurgence akin to this one, but we’d like to know:
Who do YOU think is more deserving of a comeback like this?
He may be hot on the promo trail on the recently kicked off ‘INDIGOAT’ tour in support of his latest chart-topping effort, ‘Indigo’ (click here for dates), but many of his fans are probably still trying to work their way through the 5,000 45 tracks listed aboard the LP’s predecessor – his eighth solo studio album ‘Heartbreak on a Full Moon.’ Its enduring success over ‘Indigo’ on digital and streaming formats serves as proof.
The October 2017-released project – which birthed the hits ‘Party’ (featuring Usher and Gucci Mane), ‘Privacy,’ ‘Questions,’ ‘Tempo,’ and ‘Pills & Automobiles’ – recently drove right past the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) threshold for double platinum status. The feat brought with it news Brown’s been penciled in the organization’s history books for an impressive certification accomplishment.
Just two weeks ahead of her inaugural ‘Lights On Festival’ (click here to read more), Grammy-winning R&B songstress H.E.R. gave fans a taste of what they can expect from the showing when she took to television to perform her singles ‘Focus’, ‘Hard Plcace,’ & ‘Carried Away’ (August 30).
Visiting the ‘TODAY’ show plaza for their Citi Concert Series, the 22-year-old cranked out her hits in celebration of the release of her second compilation album, ‘I Used to Know Her’ (August 30).
With the discourse surrounding trans rights gaining volume globally, actor Malik Yoba is the the latest name to weigh-in.
Taking to Instagram, the ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ star issued a powerful PSA to Black men and all men relating to the verbal and physical abuse of trans folk.
During the lengthy message, Yoba also revealed that he identifies as trans-attracted.
Those hoping music’s Bad Gal was joining forces with the moment’s Hot Girl will be disappointed to learn it isn’t so.
Back in February, Rihanna fans – affectionately called ‘The Navy’ – began circulating rumors the diva was set to collaborate with Megan Thee Stallion after she began following the ‘Big Ole Freak’ hitmaker on Instagram. Those rumors went into overdrive recently after reports surfaced the 31-year-old, hard at work on her 9th studio album, registered a song called ‘Whip It’ with SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) – an “invitation-only Performing Rights Organization that represents the world’s top songwriters, composers and music publishers.”
With fingers crossed, members of The Navy began flooding Rih’s social media handles with hopes she would confirm the longstanding rumor. The confirmation she offered, however, wasn’t exactly what they were looking for:
As we previously reported, September 3rd marks the release date of ‘Hurricanes’ – the memoir of Miami-based rapper Rick Ross.
Beyond detailing his troubled childhood and meteoric rise to the heights of Hip Hop fame, the 43-year-old’s tell-all is set to address some of the more controversial aspects of his life – namely his battles with depression, weight, and drugs. Although reported at the time as “complications related to pneumonia,” the latter was speculated as the cause of his highly publicized hospitalizations over the past decade. At the time the incidents dominated headlines and ignited rumors the Bawse was on life support and near death (click here to read).
Healthier now, Ricky Rozay is ready to use his story as a cautionary tale for those following in his footsteps. Details inside:
50 Cent is the man getting dragged up and down Twitter after he declared his ‘I’m the Man’ co-star, Chris Brown, was ‘better’ than King of Pop Michael Jackson.
Taking to Instagram on August 31, just two days after what would’ve been Jackson’s 61st birthday, the ‘Wanksta’ rapper praised Brown for his single sales which – as of time reported – are pushing the 70 million mark in the U.S. (a feat that makes him one of the top selling artists of all time). Lifting the post with a caption, “CB better then MJ to me now,” 50 set off a firestorm of clap backs from MJ fans who felt the comparison was not only undue, but unrealistic. Their anger was only furthered when 50 also mentioned some of Jackson’s past legal woes.
