After a string of professional and personal successes over the last year, ‘So High’ hitmaker John Legend has been just that – riding high on award wins, chart-topping hits, and more.

Now, as if forthcoming fatherhood wasn’t enough to sing about, the Grammy & Academy Award winning crooner can boast delivering record ratings for WGN America as his new show, ‘Underground’ (starring Jurnee Smollett-Bell), drew in a whopping 2.5 million with its Wednesday night premiere.

Taking to AOL in a recent interview, Legend weighed in on the controversy surrounding the show as well as racial tension in the U.S. today (ripping into Donald Trump‘s ‘racist rhetoric’).  When quizzed on his new album, however, the singer delighted fans with news they should expect the project in late 2016.

Tuck in to hear his thoughts on ‘surprise’ album releases, a la ‘Beyonce,’ and if his 5th album will be unveiled with a similar rollout:

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After dominating the Billboard 200 for 10 non-consecutive weeks with her massive comeback album ’25,‘ ‘Hello’ hitmaker Adele bids farewell to the top spot once more this week.

Ousted by alternative band/fellow Brits The 1975, it should be noted her abdication was fairly narrow given the group’s new album only sold 25,000 more copies than hers its first week (this week marks ’25’s 15th week).

But, those hoping for her return to the top soon will have to wait yet another week as, we reported here, ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ beau Kendrick Lamar‘s latest album, ‘untitled. unmastered,’ is set to be the master of next week’s refreshed chart.

Until then, tuck in below to check out this week’s occupants of the Billboard 200’s top 25:

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‘Underground,’ a pre-Civil War-based series centered around a group of Georgia plantation slaves who embark on a 600-mile trek to freedom via the Underground Railroad, has been colored with controversy since its 2015 announcement.

Executive produced by Grammy & Academy Award winning singer John Legend, the WGN America program (starring Jurnee Smollett-Bell) has seen its fair share of criticism as some argue it supports the notion the only noteworthy roles available for black actors are those based on slavery or some dark area of the African Americans’ past in the America.

But, despite ongoing skepticism, the show – which made its premiere last night – set viewership records for its network home.  Get the details below:

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‘Back To Sleep’ singer Chris Brown is back on the attack just a day after slamming former ‘Strip’ collaborator Kevin McCall.

This time with his sights on U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, the Grammy winning beau took to Instagram to wield a lengthy, yet fiery weigh in on the potential Republican nominee and recent reports of people (of color mainly) getting attacked at political rallies in his support.

Dropping no shortage of F-bombs and claims of racism and cultural misappropriation along the way, tuck in below to get into the not-so-kid-friendly read lent by Brown:

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, just 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’ve checked the charts of 2006 to see Beyonce reigning with her Slim Thug-assisted hit ‘Check On It.’  Lifted from the greatest hits effort of Destiny’s Child, the song’s accompanying music video served as quite the festive musical advert for the year’s Steve Martin-led film ‘Pink Panther’ (which Knowles also starred).

Skyrocketing to #1 on the Hot 100 shortly after its release, the Swizz Beatz-produced bop gave Bey her 3rd chart-topper as a solo artist and enjoyed an impressive 5 week reign atop the Hot 100 before it was dethroned this week in 2006.  Tuck in below to see who did the honors as well as check out where some of your other faves from the era landed:

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Lil Kim is in remix mode!

To celebrate the life of her late lover Biggie Smalls the Hip-Hop royal honoured the latest anniversary of his untimely passing with a remix of Drake’s ‘Summer Sixteen.’

Did the Queen Bee sting on a lyrical front?

Press play below to find out!

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Few can throw shade grenades like the ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’

Hence, it’s little surprise that the season 8 reunion of the Bravo hit looks set to be all sorts of explosive.

This Sunday brings the latest cycle of the show to a close, yet the fireworks fly from next week when the ladies reunite to dish and dissect on the happenings in ATL.

Get all the way into this first look trailer to see what NeNe, Kenya, Kandi, and co will be serving up this go round…

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While Janet Jackson fans await word from the singer following the sudden cancellation of her European ‘Unbreakable Tour,’ the diva herself has resurfaced in Los Angeles.

The legendary star had been in rehearsals in London for several weeks, yet jetted back home last night in the wake of the drama.

Word has it that there is a specific reason for the radio silence of late and that there will be a statement soon.

Pending then, watch the newly surfaced footage of Ms. Jackson as she exited LAX Airport.

As ever, some members of the paparazzi were relentless with their choice of questions.

See what we mean…

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‘Work’ rapper Lil Mama has been arrested in New York City.

Bad news for the ‘Lipgloss’ loving lyricist below…

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We don’t know if Rihanna has cast a spell on music lovers with her latest chart-topper, but whatever she’s done it’s obviously worked, worked, worked, worked, worked.

For, after missing the mark with 3 prior singles leading up to the release of her highly anticipated 8th opus, ‘Anti,’ the diva’s 4th go at it (assisted by Drake) proved to be her lucky strike as the song continues its domination of the Hot 100 for a 3rd week.

Elsewhere, Fifth Harmony are also proving hard work (and a catchy single to assist) does pay off.  For after launching their latest single, ‘Work From Home,’ to VEVO with its sexy construction-inspired video, the group may be well on their way to seeing their new song find a home in the Hot 100’s top 10.

See their impressive debut and more below:

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Cop a gander of Ariana Grande!

The vocal powerhouse is charging ahead full steam with the roll-out of her third studio album ‘Dangerous Woman.’

Previously christened ‘Moonlight,’ the recently renamed project follows 2014’s ‘My Everything’ and will be the singer’s LP first since parting ways with manager Scooter Braun.

With the title track due imminently (reportedly tonight), Grande has revealed a cover.

No word on whether it’s for the single or the album, but it certainly offers direct insight into the visuals for the era.

We’re liking the movie aesthetic. Are you feeling it?

Your thoughts?

Sizzling single alert!

Following the release of his number one single ‘Pillow Talk’ Zayn Malik supports the release of his new LP ‘Mind of Mine‘ he follows up with the cut ‘Like I Would.’

How he fares this time around?

Listen up below…

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