With Afrobeats making vibrations on a global scale, the world at large has become enamoured with the pepper and spice that define the genre.

And newcomer Melisa Whiskey is emblematic of why.

Born in Hackney, East London to parents of Nigerian heritage, the rising star fuses her diverse influences to anchor a sound that has many buzzing.

While studying at University of Leicester, Melisa (whose influences stretch from Lauryn Hill to Skepta) would hone her craft by performing at many an open mic night and, in the process, garnered early support from BBC Introducing. 

Just a year after graduating, she inked a publishing deal with BMG and hasn’t looked back since.

Having dropped taster jams such as ‘Bonjour’ and ‘Billin,’ Whiskey has teamed up with WizKid collaborator Mystro for new number ‘Ajeh.’

Check it out below…

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Though the show is most noted for its fun-filled and whimsical nature, a dark cloud hangs The Jenny Jones.Show.

The subject of this week’s Retro Rewind below…

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Elton John believes Michael Jackson was “mentally ill” and struggled to cope with “adult company” and is expressing these views in a new book.

Full story below…

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Variety’s Power of Women event brought it with appearances by Mariah Carey and the culture-shifting songwriter Diane Warren when it kicked off at the Beverly Wiltshire in Los Angeles, California yesterday.

Now watch what happens after Warren and Carey posed for a selfie on the former’s phone after the jump.

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At its inception, Twitter stood as a watering hole for fans keen to use the platform to celebrate their favourite artists and engage in Pop culture-related conversation with their peers.

Since then, a number of these fans have risen to prominence and built lucrative careers on the wings of their social media stars.

Arguably the biggest? Nicki Minaj super fan Nas Maraj…or Lil Nas X.

Today the online community continues to shake its collective head after it emerged that the influential sister behind an account named ‘EmoBlackThot’ is actually…a brother.

What a tangled web we weave.

How Kehlani got caught up in it?

Find out below…

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As her fans await news of her hotly-anticipated solo arena tour, Cardi B celebrates her life as it is today with a fun-filled chat with ‘Vogue.’

Joined by a studio audience, the rapper and a host from the publication discussed her marriage to the rapper Offset, her feelings on Bernie Sanders and his second Presidential campaign and why being a mother is her favourite job.

Hit the play button below for a fresh look into Cardi’s world.

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How time flies?

Alexandra Burke blast to global prominence a decade ago when she won The X Factor and embarked on a trail-blazing Pop career.

Her first offering was UK chart-topper ‘Bad Boys,’ which stayed on the tally for 25 consecutive weeks.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Burke (who has, in recent years, carved out a successful theatre branch of her career) has unleashed an acoustic live performance of the song.

Check it out below…

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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 think it’s time to honor ‘When I Think Of You’ Janet Jackson‘s first #1 single.  Hop in:

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The lawsuit Evelyn Lozada filed against her ‘Basketball Wives’ co-star OG Chijindu has found its way to the public and sheds new light on just how much Lozada’s decision to liken the African athlete to a monkey has damaged her brand.

Insight into the 42 page feud below…

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Mariah Carey may be gearing up for a big holiday celebration, but she’s giving insights into her plans beyond the festive season. Namely the release of her eagerly awaited memoir.

As reported, Mimi was honored at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon and while arriving opened up about what folk can expect from the book.

Based on her words, it appears the prolific songwriter is readying a page-turner.

Details below…

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Fantasia celebrates the release of her new album ‘Sketchbook’ with the unwrapping of the video for ‘Bad Girl.’

Flaunting another side to artistry  – both lyrically and visually – the release forms part of what the singer says is a project that salutes her past and embraces the freshness of her future.

Speaking with That Grape Juice about her approach to ‘Sketchbook,’ she explained:

“It’s a soup, a gumbo of all my other albums.  The things people loved about [my first album] ‘Free Yourself’ and all the other records put into one.  I took it back to my ‘American Idol’ days.  So, just like back on that show we did all kinds of genres, people can expect to hear all kinds of genres – Pop, R&B, Soul, and more.”

Check out the Derek Blanks directed video for ‘Bad Girl’ below…

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It’s been over a week since a Dallas court handed down a guilty verdict to former policewoman Amber Guyger after she was tried for the murder of her neighbor, an unarmed Black man named Botham Jean, but that certainly hasn’t slowed chatter around the case.  Sentenced to 10 years in prison for the act, several aspects of the proceeding – including the length of her sentence (given the severity of the crime) – have been met with harsh criticism from legal analysts, celebrities, and more.

While the judge presiding over the case, the honorable Tammy Kemp, has been on a media blitz to justify her ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unethical’ courtroom behavior (click here to read more), other key players – including Jean’s family lawyer S. Lee Merritt – is fielding criticism on his clients’ behalf for the flack they’ve received for their courtroom actions (see:  forgiving Guyger, etc.).

After catching wind of a disparaging Twitter comment from Grammy nominated rapper Nicki Minaj after the death of star witness Joshua Brown, Merritt took to Instagram (October 10) to not only clap back but also praise the femcee’s ‘more active’ musical counterparts for their role in the fight for justice.

See his words inside:

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