JAY-Z has done it again!

The rap titan unleashed his 13th album ‘4:44’ last week and just five days later has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association America.

In bestowing the 47-year-old with the honor, the RIAA officially recognize the LP for shifting 1 million units – sold and/or streamed in the United States.

Jay, who welcomed twins with Beyonce last month, now has  13 Platinum (or higher) solo studio Album Awards in the US – more than any other hip hop artist in the history of RIAA’s Gold & Platinum Program.

He is also the only Hip-Hop artist with more than 10 RIAA Platinum (or higher) studio albums. Jay, real name Shawn Carter, also has 4 additional Platinum Album certs for collaborations with Kanye West, R. Kelly, and Linkin Park.

The company’s president Cary Sherman (photo’ed with Jigga above) said in a statement:

“Props to JAY, he’s done it again!  Another Platinum album adds to an already iconic career.”

**********

Congrats are definitely in order.

That said, we can’t be alone in wondering “how” this was pulled off.

‘4:44’ arrived on TIDAL exclusively and the numbers are yet to be reported publicly.

Perhaps they’re incoming?

Time will (hopefully) tell.

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Jeff Kravitz]

Keith Powers rises in Hollywood‘s ranks on the wings of his contributions to the New Edition biopic this year.

Seemingly free from the fiasco he faced over remarks he made about bisexuality,  the actor now glides towards box office glory by way of his union with ‘Maximum Impact.’

The project is directed by ‘Romeo Must Die’ director and Aaliyah collaborator Andrzej Bartkowiak and welcomed Powers to the fray as Special Agent Vance, a major player in its game of war, espionage and high drama.

Its storyline?

The US State Secretary arrives on a secret summit in Moscow, in order to dissipate the tension between the Russia-Americal relations. However the world face the threat of a World War III, when a leader on an international terrorist group organizes an assassination of the US State Secretary and kidnaps his granddaughter. Despite their differences, CIA and FSB unite to save humanity.

Keep it locked on TGJ for the project’s release date.

Your thoughts?

Kanye West supposed financial woes were flung out onto Front Street last week when his former friend Jay-Z hit out at him on his ‘4:44’ set.

But you got hurt because you did cool by ‘Ye // You gave him 20 million without blinkin’ // He gave you 20 minutes on stage, f*** was he thinkin’? // ‘F*** wrong with everybody?’ is what you sayin’ // But if everybody’s crazy, you’re the one that’s insane.

This week, sources close to the moguls claim that the truth lies in a very different story and that money Jay-Z loaned West wasn’t a loan at all.

Keen to present Jay’s side of the story as untrue, said sources reached out to TMZ to offer the following explanation:

The $20 million was a payout advance which could also cover expenses — including the floating stage — for Kanye’s “Saint Pablo Tour.”  The money is sometimes used to cover various production costs and staff. It’s actually standard for artists at Kanye’s level to get such an advance.  It’s part of the deal.

West parted ways with Jay-Z‘s Roc Nation following drama surrounding his role as executive-producer on the first draft of Rihanna‘s ‘ANTI.’

This week, the world learned that he had also parted ways with TIDAL.

Click here to learn more.

Who do you believe?

Welcome to another edition of Screen Juice, the TGJ original feature launched to keep you in the loop with all things TV and Film related.

Who makes up the ingredients of today’s blend?

The unstoppable force that is Rihanna and the British movie ‘The Weekend.‘

This year will bring with it the development of the star’s first project with Ava Duvernay and Lupita Nyong’O. Before that, she celebrates the unleashing of ‘Valerian & the City of a Thousand Planets’, the movie she stars in alongside her pal Cara Delevingne which impacts U.S. on July 21st.

Some good news before it drops? Try this.

Fenty’s decision to sign up to appear in the release helped its producers bag a budget of $222,935,050 (197 million Euros) and is expected to help it draw in $20 million in the North America in its opening weekend.

Her union with the space opera leads the way for her next studio album which is to be built by writing camps in the U.K. and U.S. this summer.

New to Netflix this summer is ‘The Weekend‘, the British comedy delivered by Sheridan De Myers and the comedian Kojo.

The British production is now available to stream worldwide on the platform following its healthy run at theatres in its domestic market.

Interested in it?

Click here!

Your thoughts?

Riding high on the wave built by the single ‘Tyrant’ is Pop’s most promising starlet Kali Uchis.

Touted by some industry insiders as the one to give the likes of Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj a run for their money, the entertainer is set to soar with the unveiling of her debut studio album and the treasure chest of visuals she’ll build to support it.

Keen to catch her live?

We have good news…she’s hitting the road…this year!

MY FIRST TOUR!!!?
on sale Friday pic.twitter.com/r4OUjB9N2k

— kali ùchis⛈?? (@KALIUCHIS) June 20, 2017

What do you make of Kali?

Prince‘s ‘Purple Rain’ reigns again.

After selling more albums than any other artist in 2016, the Purple One’s magnum opus – the ‘Purple Rain’ soundtrack – is looking to help him lay claim to the title again in 2017.

Last week’s deluxe reissue of the 1984 classic (which hit #1 the year of its debut) includes remastered versions of the original album with unreleased bonus tracks, B-sides, and other rarities.  The “new and improved” edition of the set was just enough to get the late entertainer’s beloved fans out in droves to purchase and hoist it right into the Billboard 200’s DJ Khaled-led top 5.

According to Billboard:

The album — combining all versions of Purple Rain, past and present — earned 52,000 units in the tracking frame (of which 48,000 were in traditional album sales). The set collected a 3,633 percent gain in units for the week, and a 4,767 percent leap in album sales.

Purple Rain was reissued in a variety of formats, including a 20-track deluxe edition with unreleased bonus tracks and a 35-track expanded edition with additional B-sides, rarities and a live DVD of the Purple Rain Tour from 1985.

Billboard 200 This Week

Your thoughts?

Christina Aguilera seeks to set the net ablaze with her latest set of snaps today.

After sporting a thicker and fuller frame in recent years, the sensational vocalist rocked Instagram minutes ago when she unwrapped herself to reveal her brand new look.

Have fun and be safe everyone!!????

A post shared by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Jul 4, 2017 at 12:04pm PDT

A post shared by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Jul 4, 2017 at 8:48am PDT

?

A post shared by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Jul 4, 2017 at 11:56am PDT

Still no official word on when she’ll release the follow-up to 2012’s ‘Lotus’.

Fortunately, if the response to the snaps are anything to go by, the project will be well-received by fans who eagerly await details on the set and its supporting era.

Want more news on the ‘Burlesque’ belle?

Click here!

Your thoughts?

Azealia Banks is a woman of many talents, but who knew business building was one of them?

The ‘212’ rapper has taken to social media to offer her services to JAY-Z and his TIDAL streaming service.

(Re)Launched in 2015 after the mogul acquired its parent company, the service has had a rollercoaster trajectory; indeed, it’s enjoyed growth spurts following major releases but is largely lagging behind popular competitors such as Spotify and Apple Music.

According to Banks, she has the remedy. She wrote…

LET ME SHAKE THE TABLE.

A post shared by Azealia Banks (@azealiabanks) on Jul 4, 2017 at 9:23am PDT

Azealia undoubtedly has burned many a bridge in her time, but what’s your take on her “offer.” Should Jigga take it?

Your thoughts?

Fergie, Monica, Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake.

First mention of the aforementioned names usually evokes memories of some of the past two decades’ top pop hits.  However, as our list below details, even some of music’s most prized hitmakers have had their fair share of misses.

Every year on U.S. ‘Independence Day’ the likes of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Beyonce are oft-praised for their awe-inspiring renditions of the country’s national anthem, ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, while other renditions of the historical number will go down in history for some *ahem* less flattering reasons.

Forgotten words, bum notes, and all around embarrassment await below.  See our top 10 list of the “best of the worst” ‘Star Spangled Banner’ performances and tell us your pick:

(more…)

As the breakout star of ‘Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta‘, Joseline Hernandez rose in television’s ranks as a formidable force on and off-camera.

Today, after announcing that she had quit the series, she has taken to Instagram Live to issue a warning to the show’s mastermind Mona Scott-Young.

Give me my money

Disappointed in Scott’s supposed efforts to offer viewers an unhealthy and exaggerated look into the lives of people of colour, Hernandez claims she is owed over $150,000 and is ready to seek justice in court.

That isn’t all.

For, she also revealed that her portrayal on the series was edited to present her as a wild and maniacal villain…a far cry from the astute business woman who pushed the series to household name status.

Watch below…

Press play to peep what prompted Joseline’s message…

Your thoughts?

After pulling the plug on her relationship with Future, the Grammy-winning singer Ciara made headlines when she moved on to start a relationship with the athlete Russell Wilson.

How? By way of the heat she faced for allowing the devout Christian to help her raise the son she bore with Future.

The drama didn’t go unnoticed by Ciara’s former touring buddy Jay-Z who referenced it on a cut placed on his new album ‘4:44.’

The way Jay Z just referenced the Future/Ciara/Russell Wilson situation was IMMACULATE

— ♍ cozy boy 47 (@97PuffDaddy) June 30, 2017

How Future has responded?

By mocking another line on the album which mocks rappers who pose in pictures with large sums of money…

Do you think Future has a right to be offended?

Step into the lives of an LGBT street gang in the movie ‘Check It’.

Introduced to the world at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, the movie was spotted by the polarising Louis C.K. who took it under his wing by breathing new life into it and bagging himself an executive-producer credit in the process.

 Dana Flor, Toby Oppenheimer and Steve Buscemi stand as its original creatives and now join C.K. to unlock its story via a new trailer.

C.K. had this to say about it:

It knocked me right over. It was an amazing emotional ride. It was funny and moving, I learned a lot and it gave me a lot to think about after. They started this gang to protect each other. They made a family where they didn’t have one. It’s not an easy film. It takes on life right where the rubber hits the road. What made me love it was just the kids themselves. They are like any kids, like anyone’s children. They are trying to cope against terrible odds, they are funny and full of hope and life. Their lives are difficult and complex. They are very generous in sharing this with the filmmakers and you, if you watch the film.

Press play below…

Your thoughts?