kendrick-lamar-that-grape-juice-2015-1910101

Kendrick Lamar‘s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ recently surpassed sales of 750,000 units in the United States alone much to the delight of his swelling fan base and the critics who praised its bold and unashamedly hard hitting material.

What inspired its sound?

Lamar’s traumatic childhood which he discussed only during an interview set to shock those who know very little about his life before his rise to fame.

Read below…

 

(more…)

bill-cosby-thatgrapejuice-rape 2004

2015 hasn’t exactly brought many smiles to embattled funnyman Bill Cosby.  The comedy legend has been bombarded with reports alleging his involvement in the drugging and rape of several women, many of whom have attempted (and still are attempting) to seek legal action against him.

Now, to make matters worse, a warrant has been issued for his arrest in connection to yet another alleged drugging and sexual assault.

Details below:

(more…)

jojo debut album thatgrapejuice

Welcome back to TGJ Replay!

Designed much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ features, ‘Replay’ is That Grape Juice‘s newest reflective segment to act as a written quest to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday. Unlike its TGJ retrospective predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase entire albums (and eras) from a library of pop and Urban pop music hits.

This week, we’ll press play on the critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album of pint-size powerhouse Jojo: (more…)

azealia-banks-that-grape-juice-2015-magazine-181717191

Lionsgate has set a release date for their Azealia Banks-led movie ‘Coco.’

All you need to know about the release below…

(more…)

The-Real-Housewves-of-Atlanta-that-grape-juice

‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ continued to woo and wow TV lovers this week thanks to a surprising feud between Porsha Williams and Don Juan, general manager to William’s cast mate Kandi Burruss.

The root of their problem? A business deal gone wrong between Kandi’s husband and Williams’ best friend Phaedra Parks.

Now watch what happens when the feuding parties come face to face in a brand teaser released before this Sunday’s coming episode below!

(more…)

Chris-brown-royalty-album-cover-thatgrapejuice

Christmas week 2015 saw music superstars Chris Brown & Monica go head-to-head in the name of R&B amidst a fray of the year’s top sellers (see: Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Adele).  Hoping to capitalize from the holiday rush, the RCA labelmates respectively lent their 8th official projects (‘Royalty’ and ‘Code Red‘) to much critical fanfare.

On the commercial front, however, the responses saw a wider margin of variance.  Both launched without a top-performing single on the Hot 100, the R&B sets also took a more demure route to promo. While Mo hit the streets for a 22 date Stateside tour (and sparse media stops), Brown relied on a few print features and a slew of music videos to spread awareness about his project.

Were their approaches just right or did they miss the mark?   Find out below:

monica-thatgrapejuice-code red album cover

(more…)

Tinashe-that-grape-juice-2015-191010191010

‘2 On’ performer Tinashe is calling out the music industry for only championing one black female artist at a time.

Read her point of her view below…

(more…)

kenya-moore-that-grape-juice-2015-19191010101

Thanks to its lighter, brighter and far more positive storylines season eight of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ continues to watch its ratings rise with every passing week.

Its numbers are set to rise once again in a matter of weeks with the “surprise” return of its leading lady NeNe Leakes who now seems to have walked in on a feud between cast mates Kenya Moore and Kim Fields.

Why Moore feels Fields doesn’t belong on the hit show?

Watch below….

(more…)

indigo-sammie-thatgrapejuice

R&B crooner Sammie, formerly known as Leigh Bush, is ending his 2015 on a high note with a new mixtape for his devoted fans.

Titled ‘Indigo,’ the 12-track digital project boasts penning by Sammie in its entirety.  An emotional affair for the 28-year-old singer, he says the project is representative of his own personal and professional growth.

“This project is closure. I’ve been conflicted for so long on how to prioritize my life that in the process of doing so the most important thing which is love, got pushed to the bottom of the list. I’m finally at the point where nothing else matters to me but love. From my mistakes, I’ve learned the lesson. And those very same mistakes molded me into the man I am today.”  – Sammie

Your listen awaits below:

(more…)

raven-symone-the-view-nene-that-grape-juice

Earlier this year ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s star NeNe Leakes made headlines when she slammed the women of ABC’s ‘The View’ for given her a frosty reception when she joined them to promote her run on Broadway’s ‘Chicago.’

She went on to claim she was most offended by the show’s newbie Raven-Symone.

Now, Symone has responded to the drama as she prepares for ‘View’s next season in the New Year and defended the controversial remarks she has made on the ABC series.

Watch below….

(more…)

chris-brown-that-grape-juice-2015-1910101

 

To work hard doesn’t always mean one is “working smart.”

Unfortunately, the above is a lesson R&B prince Chris Brown is yet to learn as he joins the artist Cal Scruby to release the visual for the song ‘Ain’t Sh** Change.’

Pulled from the latter’s ‘House in the Hills’ EP the song and its supporting video now stands as one of many impressive yet forgettable  releases the ‘Fine China’ singer has released to aid his latest album ‘Royalty.’

Why we say Brown is working hard but not “smart”? The video below, when joined by all the others seemingly released without rhyme or reason this month, pulls the public’s focus away from the main event (‘Royalty‘s material) while robbing Brown’s brand of the high end exclusivity it once had.

That’s enough from us.

Peep the video below….

(more…)

kmichelle-thatgrapejuice

If there are two things Urban fans know K. Michelle for it’s her big voice and big booty.  But, just last month the R&B diva revealed the surgically-enhanced latter would soon be placed on a permanent hiatus.  In a telling interview, she shared:

“For me, and my career right now, and me doing business — like really being on the frontline in business — I don’t need to have a man looking down at my ass when I’m trying to talk numbers. I can’t wear designer clothes. It’s always a problem when it comes to designers and like when they have to get stuff to fit my body.”

 

Well, it appears she’s kept her word.  Taking to Instagram, Michelle showed off her newly shaped bum (which she has affectionately nicknamed ‘Betsy’) and accompanied it with a touching caption.  See the full pic and Mz. New Booty’s words of wisdom below:

(more…)

**