As reported here, Sam Smith lays claim to his first Billboard 200 chart-topper thanks to his sophomore album, ‘The Thrill of It All.’

The critically acclaimed set, which spawned the the hit singles ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’ and ‘Pray,’ saw the singer/songwriter step into new sonic territory by enlisting the help of hitmaking producers Timbaland, Jimmy Napes, and many others.  The result?  A #1 debut to the tune of 237,000 SPS shifted its first week [his best opening numbers to date].

The project’s riskiness was also found in its lyrical content.  Smith says there’s one person to thank for that:  fellow chart-topper Rihanna…

(more…)

Kim Kardashian just made bank.

How?

Details on her unbelievably good financial news below…

(more…)

As one of modern music’s tallest titans, Beyonce has a hits catalogue that few can rival.

Even more noteworthy is how enduring said songs are. Case in point, Queen Bey’s 2008 double album ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce.’

Home to smashes such as ‘Halo’ and ‘Single Ladies,’ the project holistically is proving a winner on the streaming shores.

For, the Platinum edition of ‘I Am…’ has just crossed a major milestone: it’s amassed 1 Billion streams.

See how the numbers stack up below…

(more…)

The praise continues to roll in for Rihanna‘s ‘Fenty Beauty’.

The latest entity to shower adoration of the cosmetics brand? TIME!

Good news for fans of the ‘Drunk on Love’ singer below…

(more…)

The Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul Mary J. Blige has been revealed as the latest name to receive an honor at the 2017 Billboard Women In Music ceremony.

Full story below…

(more…)

It’s here!

Remy Ma has unleashed the video for ‘Wake Me Up’ – her hard hitting collaboration with Lil Kim. 

The single is the first serving from the New Yorker’s sophomore album ‘Seven Winters & Six Summers’ – which arrives early next year via Remy’s new label Columbia Records. 

With 2017 seeing Rem’s popularity soar thanks to the mega success of ‘All The Way Up,’ ‘Shether,’ Love & Hip-Hop, as well as her BET Awards win, is she about crank up her momentum with this?

Watch the video below and let us know…

(more…)

Janet Jackson is powering through her State Of The World Tour, which pulled into New York last night.

The Queen of Pop blazed the Barclays Center with hits such as ‘Rhythm Nation,’ ‘Feedback,’ and ‘All 4 U’ – and was watched on by a number of notable names.

These included supermodel Naomi Campbell, soulful singer Maxwell, and actress Gabrielle Union, all of whom met Jackson at the show’s afterparty.

Peep her snap with Naomi above (did they step into a time-machine?!) and more (including her emotional meet with Gabby) 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’ll run it back to 1995’s ‘Who Can I Run To’ – Xscape‘s hit remake of the 70’s R&B classic by The Jones Girls.  Lifted as the second single from the Atlantan quartet’s sophomore album, ‘Off the Hook,’ ‘Run,’ highlighted by their unmistakable, gospel-inspired harmonies, soared to and peaked at #8 this week 22 years ago.Helping lead its parent album to platinum status, the song – over   20 years later – continues to be a fan favorite as evidenced by live performances post-their long-awaited reunion.

Tuck in below to hear ‘Who Can I Run To’ and see who joined them in the top 25 this week in 1995:

(more…)

Gabrielle Union wants moviegoers to be aware that a film’s success is often determined by the budget it receives from it studio…not by the performances delivered by its actors.

How she’s highlighting this issue?

By spotlighting the way in which movies which are led by African-American actors exceed expectations despite being given “slim” budgets by movie studios who then use cash earned by said actors to fund projects they are shut out of.

How it works?

Watch below…

(more…)

Xscape made headlines this week when an oh so awkward interview went viral.

During the tense sit-down on ‘Watch What Happens Live,’ members Kandi Burruss and Tamika Scott clashed over the reason for their earlier friction.

In the time since, many have weighed-in on the drama – which is also playing out on their Bravo show ‘Xscape: Still Kickin’ It.’

However, with a tour around the corner and a biopic in the works, Scott isn’t here for the slander – from others.

See what we mean below…

(more…)

Mariah Carey may not have a new album out, but she sure has been working like she does.

The premium diva is working the promotional trail for her musical stint in animated holiday movie ‘The Star.’

Mimi wrote and sung the title track for the festive flick – which features Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. 

With the on-demand film now out and Xmas drawing near, the songbird has hatched the video for the song.

Check it out below…

(more…)

The family man Terry Crews seeks to inspire victims of sexual abuse to step forward with a new interview this week.

In it, he details the moment a Hollywood power player named Adam Venit tried to seduce him at a party and clawed at his his genitals in front of his wife.

He’s basically staring at me and he’s sticking his tongue out and, you know, it’s overtly sexual kind of tongue move… it’s a party. It’s packed… I’m looking, is this a joke? I don’t understand. It was actually so bizarre. He keeps coming over to me. He comes over to me. I stick my hand out and he takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals and I jump back like hey, hey and he’s like — he still is sticking his tongue out and all this stuff.

Watch Crews tell his harrowing story below…

(more…)