Though the past few years have brought testing times for Robin Thicke – both personally and professionally, there’s no denying that he’s all sorts of gifted.

This week, From The Vault reacquaints with the crooner’s breakthrough single ‘Lost Without U.’

Serviced as the second single from the star’s 2006 sophomore set ‘The Evolution Of Robin Thicke’, the love-lorn song was written at a time when Robin felt insecure following the underperformance of his debut LP and its singles. Thankfully, history had not repeated itself with this single as it was a sleeper hit in the US peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hip Hop/R&B tally – which had not happened for a White artist since George Michael almost twenty years prior. The cut also reached the 11th spot of the UK Singles Charts.

Because he thought it could be his last video if the song tanked, Thicke chose to cast his then-wife Paula Patton as his love interest in the track’s Benny Boom lensed visual.

Needless to say, the chemistry displayed throughout the sensual video veered off the Richter scale. Bittersweet, somewhat, given the eventual fate for the much-loved (and “in love”) couple.

With ‘Blurred Lines’, Robin Thicke managed to gain a new audience. Yet, as many loyalists would agree, he (in the process) also lost that particular qualitative aura that was omnipresent on previous projects. We hope next go around he manages to mix and match the playful Pop elements of the ‘Lines’ album with some heartfelt and vulnerable moments akin to his first few bodies of work.

Sure, he’s already had a few missteps on that path, but songs like this remind us why we’ll willingly wait.

Your thoughts?

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The live fun continues on Mariah Carey‘s ‘Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour’ this week!

Celebrated for being one of the entertainer’s more entertaining live shows the tour reached new heights recently when she delivered a moving performance of her 1997 number ‘My All’ in Finland.

Supported by well-placed pre-recorded vocals the singer soared through the number as she hopes to do just as well with the new album the tour was created to support.

Catch Mariah in impressive action after the leap…

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Jussie Smollett star continues to rise in Hollywood thanks to his well-received role in ‘Empire.’

Alas, his role has done little to stop the show from sliding to new lows on a ratings front.

Bad news below…

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Congratulations are in order for Shakira & Idris Elba!

What they’re celebrating?

The unmatched success of their new movie ‘Zootopia.’

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After teasing the new era with a new look, fresh sound and impact-making singles, Drake‘s ‘Views from the 6′ has finally received a release date.

How and why he’s set to overshadow his closest rivals this month?

Good news below…

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This week brought with it the hotly anticipated launch of BET‘s ‘Chasing Destiny.’

Spearheaded by Kelly Rowland and creative director Frank Gatson, the series sees the dynamic duo set out create music’s next big girl-group.

Praised for its refreshing rawness, the show drew solid ratings and is being touted as a must-see by many critics.

Missed the premiere? Or simply want to watch again? That Grape Juice has you covered. Ahead of the next week’s instalment, peep the first episode of ‘Chasing Destiny’ after the jump…

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As talent show history has shown, sometimes it’s better not to win.

And for American Idol‘s last-ever runner-up La’Porsha Renae, the post-show wins have already begun accruing.

Full story below…

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Here at TGJ we’re always keen to find out how you, our faithful reader, feels about matters which often spark “intense” conversations in the Popsphere.

Only right then, as the world prepares itself for the release of a new Beyonce album, that we ask you the question many can’t wait to find the answer to.

What that it is?

Find out below…

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Fierce quintet Fifth Harmony are currently blazing the promotional trail in the UK in support of their global smash ‘Work From Home.’

Already a #2 hit in the region, the ladies took to the stage on primetime talk show Alan Carr Chattyman to provide an additional push.

Watch below as Normani, Ally, Camila, Lauren, and Dinah werk it (and twerk it) all the way out…

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Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature launched to celebrate TV and Film’s glorious past.

Who we’re celebrating today? The R&B force that was B2K and their box office smashing movie ‘You Got Served.’

Touted as “four Ushers”, Boys of the new Millenium rose to fame as R&B’s answer to Justin Timberlake‘s ‘NSync in 2001 with the single ‘Uh Huh.’

Clean cut and scandal free, the Urban Pop quartet came courtesy of the manager Chris Stokes (cousin of group member Raz B) and was mentored by Marques Houston, formerly of the group IMX, and elder cousin of B’s bandmate J-BooG.

Their run atop Pop’s scene would last three years, delivering four studio albums, one US #1 single (‘Bump Bump Bump’) and four Top 40 singles.

Their last studio effort? ‘You Got Served: Music from the Motion Picture’, released to support their Screen Gems movie ‘You Got Served’ which picked up $16 million at the box office when it hit theatres on January 30th 2004.

Ready to take that walk down memory lane?

Reunite with ‘Served’ below…

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Fans of ‘Runaway’ singer Janet Jackson accused the pop icon of living up to the song title (with their coins in purse) after she announced the postponement of her critically acclaimed ‘Unbreakable World Tour’ to start a family.

However, quick to put out the fire, Live Nation issued a statement clearing up any confusion on the length of the Grammy winner/mom-to-be’s hiatus from the road.

See their official word below:

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Music lovers who thought Kanye West‘s latest album, ‘The Life of Pablo,’ was dead on arrival after a mucky mess of a rollout will be stunned to know the album has been given a major lifeline.

For, after weeks of only being available via Tidal stream and his official web site, the Grammy winning rapper finally made the project accessible to Spotify, Pandora, and other major streaming vendors.

The result?

The streams alone will see him shoot to #1, as predicted, on next week’s refreshed Billboard 200!  Kanye isn’t exactly known for flashing an award-winning smile, but the news below just may give him new reason to today:

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