X Factor graduates 5 After Midnight are creating ripple waves of excitement with their dynamic take on the boyband.

Comprised of Kieran, Jordan, and Nathan, the trio placed second in the final of last year’s competition. However, the group are enjoying first-rate buzz about their debut single ‘Up In Here’ – which rocketed into the iTunes top 10 after their blazing performance on

That Grape Juice caught up with the guys to discuss the DMX sampled song, their album, inspirations, Beyonce, Rihanna, Fifth Harmony, Little Mix, and more!

Check it out above and be sure to download/stream ‘Up In Here.’

Your thoughts?

Taylor Swift has come under fire for what appears to be attempt to derail Katy Perry‘s new album ‘Witness.’

At midnight, Perry released her new album ‘Witness’ and, perhaps coincidentally, her nemesis Swift released all of her albums to the very same digital plans.

Her supposed bid to overshadow Perry’s release hasn’t gone unnoticed by Lily Allen.

What the Brit-Pop belle has to say about it?

Perry learned of Taylor’s alleged passive aggressive attack hours after she took to NME to criticise the ‘Bad Blood’ siren for what she says was an attempt to ruin her brand.

Click here to learn more.

 

Do you, like her ex Calvin Harris, think Taylor is out to get Katy?

Nigerian superstar WizKid is making a beeline for global domination and has enlisted Chris Brown to aid his cause.

Together the power pair and RCA label-mates have cooked up new collaboration ‘African Bad Gyal.’ 

A flavoursome AfroBeats anthem, the cut is the latest slice to be lifted from WizKid’s first worldwide album ‘Songs From The Other Side’ (due July 14th).

It arrives on the heels of the momentum he established with last year’s ‘One Dance’ with Drake and this year’s ‘Come Closer’ – which also featured Drizzy.

Much better than ‘Come Closer,’ which sounded phoned in and like a caricature of a sound he ironically helped make popular.

‘Bad Gyal’ is altogether truer to the AfroBeats sound and is lyrically accessible enough to be mass appealing.

Your thoughts?

The aftermath of Camila Cabello‘s departure from Fifth Harmony has seen both acts largely stray from any mention of the other.

Indeed, in Cabello’s case utterances of 5H have been replaced with “the group,” while her former bandmates have stressed their renewed sense of “sisterhood” and improved “communication” in virtually every interview.

All ambiguity was thrown out of the window, though, when 20-year-old Cabello stopped by 92.3 AMP to plug new single ‘Crying In The Club.’

In a bold move, the hosts not only questioned her on 5H’s comeback offering ‘Down,’ they also asked her if she regrets how she left the group.

Watch the ouch, ouch, awkward moment below…

That definitely made for a butt-clenching watch.

Still, Camila handled herself well and, in a true testament to media training, kept the focus on her own activity.

Her album ‘The Hurting. The Healing. The Love’ is presently set for a September release, while Fifth Harmony are expected to deliver their third LP before.

Your thoughts?

SZA‘s steady ascend has reached its first major milestone – the release of her debut album ‘Ctrl.’

Long-awaited, critics have christened the RCA LP one of R&B’s most notable offerings of the year.

A hearty helping of the soulful, the eclectic, and the arresting, the project features the 26-year-old’s TDE comrades Kendrick Lamar and Isaiah Rashad, as well as Travis Scott and James Fauntleroy. 

We’re loving the project thus far and feel it reaffirms SZA as one of music’s most exciting “new” names.

Take ‘Ctrl’ for a spin yourself below…

Your thoughts?

Justin Bieber is back – this time with the help of Dance DJ David Guetta.

The French hitmaker enlists the Pop star for his new single ‘2U.’

Announced just days before its arrival, the track is the latest taste of Guetta’s as-yet-untitled next album – which has thus far spurned the Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne assisted ‘Light My Body Up.’

The latter failed to touch the Billboard Hot 100. Will ‘2U’? As at writing, it’s #5 on iTunes minutes after its release. So early signs are good.

Take a listen below…

While corners of the production are cool, this is pretty much Guetta by the numbers. Although, with Bieber on board, becoming a hit of some variety seems certain.

Your thoughts?

Little Mix continue to live out their ‘Glory Days’ with ‘Power.’

The ladies level up for the single mix of the track and have enlisted Brit-rap star Stormzy, who adds flair to the fan-favorite.

Jesy, Jade, Perrie, and Leigh-Anne have enjoyed their most pronounced success yet with the ‘Glory’ era and are almost 2x Platinum in the UK.

Will ‘Power’ – which follows smashes such as ‘Touch’ and ‘Shout Out To My Ex’ – see that trajectory continue?

Watch below and let us know…

Choreo would have been cute, but this was solid.

Looks were served and the glossy aesthetic was arresting. Featuring their moms was a sweet touch too.

Your thoughts?

#Katycats wasted no time getting their claws on ‘Witness,’ the latest album from Katy Perry.

The album, which houses the hits ‘Chained to the Rhythm,’ ‘Bon Appetit’ (featuring Migos), and more, comes as her first full length release 2013’s chart-topping ‘Prism.’ And, despite what appeared to be an atmosphere of minimum buzz for the set, the singer/songwriter may be well on her way to witnessing her fifth LP follow ‘Prism’s suit.

Details below:

As we reported just moments ago, ‘Witness’ was available everywhere for streaming and digital download at 11:59 EST.  Less than 10 minutes later, real-time U.S. iTunes charts revealed the project had already bested the tally’s top-seller.

 

 

‘Witness’ also looks poised to repeat the feat in the U.K. [as of time reported].

While we await official first week predictions (usually rendered by mid-day on Saturday), we can say it does look like Perry’s off to a promising start…at least on the digital front.  Streaming victory, on the other hand, may be offset by an old rival of hers – Taylor Swift.  Click here to read more on that.

Your thoughts?

 

It’s no secret and nothing new; the Hot 100 has been a “man’s world” for some time.  Barring dominating entries from the likes of Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Adele, and Katy Perry, the Hot 100’s leaders of the 2010s have been generally male.

Yet, despite equally qualitative offerings (however you want to qualify use of that term in today’s musical climate) from a number of former female chart-toppers, the troubling trend shows no sign of slowing as this week’s refreshed chart has a dearth of estrogen to say the least.

In fact, out of the entire top 40 entries, only 4 of them include females as lead acts (only 2 on the top 20).

Is this a sign of the times or just a reminder of the way things have always been?  Tuck in below and tell us:

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#KatyCats rejoice!

For, without further adieu, ‘Witness’ – the long-awaited new album from Katy Perry – has finally arrived on shelves. Kicked off by the politically-tinged tune ‘Chained to the Rhythm,’ the set’s celebrated two follow-up charting singles – ‘Bon Appetit’ & ‘Swish Swish’ – in the four month promo campaign it’s been afforded leading up to its release this morning.

As mixed critical reviews continue to flood in, ‘Witness’ has admittedly not seen the buzz and excitement its predecessors have been greeted with.  In fact, the album comes as Perry’s first to be released without a #1 single to precede it.

Will all this spell trouble for its short-term and long-term sales?  Or, will hearing the project in full help persuade those on the fence about purchasing it? Time will tell.

Until then, listen to what the ‘Bon Appetit’ singer is serving up and tell us:  are you buying?

Click your fave streaming service below to listen:

 

Fans were also thrilled to find all 15 of the album’s tracks on Youtube.  Click here to listen.

Your thoughts?

To commemorate the release of ‘Welcome to My Life,’ his biographical documentary released to select theaters today, singer/songwriter Chris Brown has accompanied the film’s arrival with a brand new track of the same name.

Tapping rapper Cal Scruby to assist, the up-tempo number comes as a reflective piece that sees Brown assess his life to date over a series of thought-provoking questions.

Take a listen below and let us know if you plan on visiting a theater near you to see the movie:

Have you seen the trailer to ‘Welcome to My Life’?  If not, click here to see it.

 

 

Your thoughts?

Is it petty or pure coincidence that Taylor Swift – a longtime opponent of having her music hosted on streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora (click here to read more on that) – officially announced today that all of her chart-topping hits will finally be available again on all major streaming platforms as of Friday at 12am ET?  Not only that, but Swift will also discount her top-sellers on iTunes.

Conveniently, both actions are set to occur at the exact same time her longtime rival – Katy Perry – is set to drop her new album, ‘Witness,’ to minimal buzz.

Details inside:

Billboard reports:

The pop star’s representative confirmed her full catalog will return to all streaming platforms Friday. Her official Instagram fan account, Taylor Nation, posted the news Thursday (June 8).

Swift’s five albums, including 1989, also will be available on Tidal, Amazon and other streaming platforms, her rep said in a statement.

The post referred to by Billboard specifically reads:

In celebration of 1989 selling over 10 Million Albums Worldwide and the RIAA’s 100 Million Song Certification announcement, Taylor wants to thank her fans by making her entire back catalog available to all streaming services tonight at midnight,” the statement said.

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You may recall Swift removed her music from Spotify around the release of her 2014 blockbuster album, ‘1989,’ and only allowed Apple Music to stream it.  The decision was reportedly based on poor royalty payments from the streaming giants.

Well, it appears the ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ hitmaker is getting back with all her old streaming friends…just in time for the release of Katy Perry’s new album, ‘Witness,’ which features the moderate hits ‘Chained to the Rhythm,’ ‘Bon Appetit,’ and ‘Swish Swish.’  This, just as the ‘Roar’ singer has been making mention of Swift more now than ever.

Click here to read her latest mention of the country-pop princess.

Your thoughts?

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