mary-j-blige-thick-of-it-tgj

Fans of Mary J. Blige ought to mark their calendars.

For, the Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul is gearing up to release the video for ‘Thick Of It’ on Monday November 7th.

The visual serves as the first to be serviced from Blige’s new album ‘Strength Of A Woman,’ which hits stores in December.

With the song already #1 on Urban Adult Contemporary radio, the video’s arrival comes right on time.

Wonder what it’ll look like? Take a sneak peek after the jump…

(more…)

beyonce-dixie-chicks-perform-cma-2016-billboard-thatgrapejuice

Country star Kenny Chesney may have the #1 album in the U.S. right now, but for the last three days he’s also been #1 on another tally:  the Beyhive hitlist.

Indeed, during Beyonce‘s controversy inciting performance with the Dixie Chicks at this year’s CMAs the camera panned to Chesney in the audience who seemed visibly uncomfortable.  The look of displeasure on his face during the ‘Daddy Lessons’ showing not only became the subject of many-a-meme, but also the catalyst for a brutal Twitter attack filled with death threats, attacks on his sexuality, personal life, and so much more.

Once the onslaught of insults reached a feverish pitch, Chesney took to social media to offer an official statement.  Read it below:

(more…)

aliciakeysvisitstonightshowstarringjimmythatgrapejuice

‘Girl on Fire’ Alicia Keys is bringing some serious heat to the promo trail in support of her sixth album, ‘Here’ (in stores now).

After news the project pounced to the top of digital charts, the 15-time Grammy winner is apparently looking to replicate its success on the Billboard 200.

Taking to Fallon Friday night (November 4), the first of many reported televised promo spots, Keys found an unlikely stage companion in rising rapstress Young M.A.  See their hot performance below:

(more…)

kanye-west-that-grape-juice-2016-1919100

Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature launched to take our readers on a journey to TV and Film’s past.

Today, we revisit one of Kanye West‘s earlier conversations with Sway Calloway.

In it, he revealed that he was bullied in school by peers who labelled him a f***** because of the way he walked and talk.

The impassioned rapper, now years removed from the trauma at that point, admitted that the accusations forced him to question his own masculinity and steer clear from anything he deemed to be effeminate.

Watch below…

(more…)

alicia-keys-here-album-thatgrapejuice

The popularity of the reality television format hasn’t always translated into the best of sales outcomes for its tenants (see:  Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, etc.), but that doesn’t – nor should it – stop them from trying.

The latest to try her hand at the table?  Alicia Keys.

Four years after dividing critics and fans alike with her #1 album, ‘Girl on Fire,’ the Grammy-winning diva’s new album is finally ‘Here.’  Birthing gems like ‘Holy War’ and ‘Blended Family,’ the RCA reared set arrived on the shoulders of an unconventional campaign – one that’s seen the singer/songwriter reintroduce herself to the buying public via an “anti-makeup” movement and stint as a judge on NBC’s reality singing competition ‘The Voice.’

If the tactics will translate into sales is yet to be seen.

Yes, the move’s kept her in conversation and even helped fuel interest in “Keys – the celebrity,” but it hasn’t done the same commercially.  In fact, what the ‘In Common’-led opus does not have in common with its five predecessors is the ability to boast a Hot 100-charting single prior to release.  Some will argue this fact many attributes to the lack of hype around the album…

(more…)

sheree-that-grape-juice-2016-191910101090

Only 24 hours separates the world from the next season of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’

Set to deliver some of its wildest storylines (see the unearthing of Porsha Williams & Kandi Burruss’ girl on girl action), the show continues to tease fans with what’s to come by unlocking a never-before-seen teaser from the season.

In it, original ‘Wife’ Sheree Whitfield locks horns with her replacement Kenya Moore over their ongoing construction war.

That isn’t all. For, Moore scores a major surprise when her Williams arrives at her housewarming party…uninvited.

Watch what happens when southern belles collide below…

(more…)

tinahe-nightride-lp-868x680-thatgrapejuice

Fans of ‘All Hands on Deck’ diva Tinashe were handed quite the surprise this week when she dropped ‘Nightride’ – a 15-song EP released today.  Branded as “two parts of the same project,”  ‘Nightride’ – a perceived predecessor to her long-awaited official sophomore album ‘Joyride’ – is seeing the singer taken on darker tones and subject matter.

Taking to Rolling Stone she revealed:

“The majority of the album was already there, so it wasn’t like that much changed,” she says. “I see [Nightride and Joyride] as two things that are equally the same. I think you can be a combination of things, and that’s what makes people human and complex. They are equally me. I don’t like to be limited to one particular thing so I want to represent that duality and that sense of boundlessness in my art.”

 

Officially launching her “ERA II,” tuck in below to see the slightly disturbing visual:

(more…)

1216_Covers.indd

Ebony’s highly anticipated ‘Power 100’ list has finally been unveiled and, much to the satisfaction of fans of some of Black Hollywood’s biggest movers and shakers, it’s never looked better.

“These 100 individuals are not only authoring their own success stories, they are leveraging their platforms in order to improve various facets of black life and render us visible on the world stage,” said EBONY editor-in-chief, senior VP and head of digital editorial Kyra Kyles. “This issue reflects how important it is for our influencers to be focused on our collective community and also on opening doors for others. This is a philosophy our cover stars embody. Power is nothing if it is not shared.”

With four special covers featuring Grammy winners Beyonce and John Legend, comedian Kevin Hart, veteran rapper  Nas, director Ava DuVernay, gymnast Simone Biles, San Franciscio 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, HBO television star Issa Rae,  tennis champ Serena Williams,and so much more, tuck in below for the full list:

(more…)

jay-z-beyonce-hillary-thatgrapejuice

Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center is playing host to the Queen Bey tonight as she and Jay-Z have taken to The Buckeye State to rock the vote in support of Hillary Clinton.

Joined by the likes of Big Sean, J. Cole, and more, if you weren’t among the fortunate able to attend the event in person tuck in below to watch:

(more…)

stevie-wonder-ariana-grande-thatgrapejuice

After thrilling fans with her Babyface-assisted ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ tribute to Stevie Wonder last year, pop diva Ariana Grande‘s signed on to deliver a duet with the legendary R&B singer himself.

Produced by Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco, ‘Faith’ – the Grande and Wonder tag team – comes as one of many expected gems to be found on the soundtrack of the forthcoming animated film ‘Sing.’

But, before you run out to buy the soundtrack on Dec. 9 and watch the film when it hits theaters on Dec. 21, tuck in to hear the amazing Ariana & Stevie collabo below:

(more…)

alicia-keys-here-album-thatgrapejuice

Fans of ‘Fallin’ singer Alicia Keys have apparently fallen in love with the 15-time Grammy winner’s latest opus, ‘Here.’  For, as of time reporting, the project – launched on the backs of critically acclaimed numbers ‘Holy War,’ ‘Blended Family,’ and ‘In Common’ – has found it’s got something else in common with her previous releases:  the ability to look down on competition from the top of digital charts.

Details inside:

(more…)

lady-gaga-japan-2016

Pop titan Lady Gaga is charging on with Japanese promotion of her new album ‘Joanne.’

Taking to the stage on News Zero today, the 30-year-old performed the LP’s title track.

As explained by the star, ‘Joanne’ is not only her middle-name but also the name of her late aunt from who she says she draws strength.

The appearance forms part of an aggressive push for the chart-topping project in the Asian region.

 Peep the songbird soar with the haunting hymn after the jump…

(more…)

**