It’s official: Miley Cyrus’ new album, ‘Younger Now,’ has delivered one of the worst first week sales figures of any established female pop act this decade.
Unlike Fergie’s abysmal numbers (which can to great degree be attributed to lengthy inactivity and the 10 year time lapse between her two solo projects), Cyrus has been fairly active over her storied career and even managed to see her last studio album, 2013’s ‘Bangerz,’ blast to the top of the Billboard 200 with approximately 270,000 units moved its inaugural week.
For ‘Younger,’ her fifth official era, the pop darling opted to abandon her temporary love affair with Urban pop to embrace her country roots. And, while the shift appeared promising at its onset as the lead single, ‘Malibu,’ made a splash in the Hot 100’s top 10, that run was short-lived.
Despite an aggressive promo run that saw her hit the talk show circuit and more, the new album found itself lost in the fray of a host of big name releases – namely her fellow pop star Demi Lovato and the return of Country Pop Queen Shania Twain. The result? Miley, as forecasted, wound up miles behind the two powerhouses:
Jhene Aiko loves her some Big Sean and wants the world to know it.
The soulful singer has been dating the Roc Nation rap star for over a year and is clearly smitten because she’s just made the boldest of proclamations. She’s tattooed Sean Don’s face on her arm.
Fresh from her digital brawl with Brielle Biermann (daughter of Real Housewives of Atlanta co-star Kim Zolciak), the reality star has once again shown just how uncouth she can be.
During a stand-up show gone wrong, the aspiring comedienne was reportedly being heckled by an unimpressed audience member.
Unable to take the heat, Leakes responded by telling the woman that she “hopes she got raped by her Uber driver on the way home.” Yes, you read right.
Cardi B‘s ‘Bodak Yellow’ has set a new record on the Billboard Hot 100 seeing her cast a soon-to-be platinum shadow over efforts made by Remy Ma, Lil Kim and more.
The ease with which Hip-Hop newcomer Cardi B pulled the chart rug from beneath Taylor Swift‘s ‘Look What You Made Me Do.’
Fans of the ladies will know that Swift’s cut reigned supreme atop the Billboard Hot 100 before Cardi, propelled and powered by Hip-Hop’s star makers, rocked her world by kicking her from the top to claim the spot for her baby ‘Bodak.’
The queen of Pop looked all sorts of good as she arrived at the afterparty for the sold-out Los Angeles stop of her State Of The World Tour.
Lensed at Lure, the 51-year-old stunned in a sheer black stop and leather skirt.
The appearance serves as a rare citing of Jackson, who has opted in recent times to keep her activity confined to the stage.
With new music reportedly nigh and a Netflix documentary also in the works, here’s hoping we’ll be seeing more of Janet out and about. Because she she is looking gorgeous!
Janet Jackson has long established herself as one of music’s most enduring legends – thanks to her catalogue of classics and dominance of the dancefloor.
On said journey, she’s been joined by a host of dancers who she affectionately calls The Kids.
Comprised of talents such as Tina Landan, Travis Payne, Jenna Dewan, and Gil Duldalao, many of the group have gone on to become notable names in the own right.
Celebrating their legacy, Jackson invited the collective on-stage to perform with her at the Los Angeles stop of the State Of The World Tour last night at the Hollywood Bowl.
Fittingly, they delivered a dynamite showing of ‘Rhythm Nation.’
It’s that time again! That Grape Juice wants to see what you all are listening to. Which 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment?
Remember, it doesn’t have to be limited to Urban music; could be something new, Throwback, religious, even something you made yourself! Drop a comment in the comments section. Ours are below – in no particular order:
Fifth Harmony have built a fervent fanbase on all corners of the globe, notably in Brazil.
The Pop quad headlined the VillaMix Festival in the region this week and made sure to show up and show out.
Powering through hits such as ‘Boss’ and ‘Worth It,’ the ladies also lit up the stage with newer numbers such ‘He Like That,’ ‘Down,’ and ‘Angel’ – all of which are lifted from the group’s self-titled album.
This week, Janet Jackson‘s classic sixth studio album ‘The Velvet Rope’ turned 20 years old. Today, we take you back to 1997 as this week’s From The Vault pick is the LP’s first single ‘Got ‘Til It’s Gone.’
The first taste of Jackson in the 2 years since she wrapped her self-titled era, ‘Gone’ was a departure in style for the singer. Markedly darker, the track was produced by Jackson alongside Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis set the tone for an album that was recorded while the star was going through depression.
Despite critics around the world praising Jackson for collaborating with A Tribe Called Quest alumni Q-Tip and incorporating a sample of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ over a bass-heavy Hip-Hop beat, the single choice still seemed to confuse people who were probably used to a more colorful sound.
The tune wasn’t commercially released in the US, so wasn’t eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Still it reached the 36th position of the Hot 100 Airplay and the 3rd spit of the Hot Hip-Hop/R&B Airplay tally.
Overseas, the track was welcomed with open arms, charting at #6 in the UK, #11 in France and #10 in Australia.
Mark Romanek was the main man behind the highly-acclaimed visual for the release.
Set in a time that references Apartheid, the melanin-filled video was a celebration of Black culture. It is considered a masterpiece by many and won a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video. [Note: The African theme was a very important one for the whole era.]
Like the song, the visual was something different for Janet. Indeed, she didn’t rely on high-octane choreography nor the glamorous shots she was known for at the time. Instead she is seen throughout the clip sporting a natural look. And even then the focus isn’t even on her much. Thus making the message she’s conveying – both with the song and video- even clearer.
‘The Velvet Rope’ is such an important part of music history and we’re glad it’s being celebrated two decades on. We feel it’s important the younger generation understands that it is one of the biggest inspirations behind some of their faves’ best work. From Beyonce, Rihanna, Solange and Kelly Rowland, to Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean among many many others, they all have studied this album that intertwined the music, the visuals and the staging like never before.
A round of applause for this disruptive, genre-defining, trailblazing work of art!
