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’re gonna give ya ‘Gimme More’ – the lead single from Britney Spears fifth studio album, ‘Blackout’ [click here to read our ode to the album].  Unveiled via an awesomely bad MTV VMA performance, the tune – produced by Timbaland protege Danja and written by Keri Hilson – was officially released in late September 2007.  Just a few weeks later, the song zoomed to #3 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year).  Going on to nearly double platinum status thanks to its stripper-inspired video (a break from her normally highly choreographed numbers), ‘Gimme’ – which remains a fan favorite over 10 years later – officially kicked off the era known by many of her staunchest supporters as her ‘magnum opus.’

See who joined Spears’ ‘Gimme More’ in the top 25 this week 10 years ago:

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It’s official:  Miley Cyrus’ new album, ‘Younger Now,’ has delivered one of the worst first week sales figures of any established female pop act this decade.

Unlike Fergie’s abysmal numbers (which can to great degree be attributed to lengthy inactivity and the 10 year time lapse between her two solo projects), Cyrus has been fairly active over her storied career and even managed to see her last studio album, 2013’s ‘Bangerz,’ blast to the top of the Billboard 200 with approximately 270,000 units moved its inaugural week.

For ‘Younger,’ her fifth official era, the pop darling opted to abandon her temporary love affair with Urban pop to embrace her country roots.  And, while the shift appeared promising at its onset as the lead single, ‘Malibu,’ made a splash in the Hot 100’s top 10, that run was short-lived.

Despite an aggressive promo run that saw her hit the talk show circuit and more, the new album found itself lost in the fray of a host of big name releases – namely her fellow pop star Demi Lovato and the return of Country Pop Queen Shania Twain.  The result?  Miley, as forecasted, wound up miles behind the two powerhouses:

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September 8th kicked off Sam Smith’s sophomore era with the release of his single, ‘Too Good at Goodbyes.’

Since then, the crooner has been steadily working the promo trail to promote the track and its housing album.

Sitting down with SiriusXM’s ”1 on 1 With Larry Flick,” the ‘Stay With Me’ singer had this to say about the project…

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Nicki Minaj has raked yet another top 10 entry into her pile of hits.

The rapstress, who was already penciled in history books for having more Hot 100 entries than any other female act (of any genre), also holds the record for most top 10 hits among female rappers on the same list.  This week brought with it news the latter achievement was extended as her hit with rapper Yo Gotti, the bop ‘Rake It Up,’ soared into the top 10, giving Minaj her 14th mention in the chart’s topmost dectet.

With heightened visibility thanks to its recently unveiled music video, ‘Rake’ rose in digital sales, streaming, and radio airplay – a combo that helped place it at #10 on this week’s refreshed tally.

Curious to see who joins the duo in the top 25?  Tuck in below to find out:

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It’s official!

Pink will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. 

Dive below for details…

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Brandy‘s career may have stalled and been stifled by poorly executed moves in recent years, but that’s done all of nothing to shake her status as one of Pop’s greatest success stories.

Leading the way for the likes of then-teenagers Beyonce and Britney Spears in the 90s, the vocalist’s unmatched success on stage and screen during the period saw her harvest a fan base which has unknowingly turned her into a streaming magnet as her ability to pick up pure sales falters.

Awesome news below…

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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 time we’ll highlight ‘Sometimes’ – the second single from Britney Spears‘ 1999 debut album, ‘Baby One More Time.’ With big shoes to fill given the mega-success of its chart-topping, platinum predecessor ‘Baby One More Time’ (the song), ‘Sometimes’ came as a mid-tempo groove that, like most of its parent album, borrowed elements of Eurodance and Europop in its composition.  Not exactly an out of the box success like ‘Baby,’ ‘Sometimes’ went on to eventually nab top 30 status before being halted at #21 on the Hot 100.

This week 18 years ago the tune maintained its #21 peak.  Tuck in below to see if you can spot any familiar faces who joined the Southern belle in the top 25 this week in 1999:

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For almost 20 years, Beyonce has proven a formidable force and 2016 was no different.

Billboard have published their list of Top 50 Music Money Makers and unsurprisingly Queen Bey has bested the rest.

The criteria drawn on to compile the tally were: sales, streaming, publishing, and touring.

While the list, in itself, makes for an interesting read, the difference between each act on certain fronts is even more riveting.

For instance, though Bey excelled in pure sales and touring (enough to make her total $20 million ahead of the act in #2 spot), other names like Rihanna and Drake outranked her streaming figure.

Check out key names, where they placed, and how they got there below…

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Tinashe‘s narrative has been one of the more puzzling among artists who’ve had buzz over the last few years.

Her inaugural set, ‘Aquarius,’ made quite the splash on Urban charts in mid-2014 thanks to its DJ Mustard-produced hit, ‘2 On.’ Yet, despite nabbing one of that summer’s biggest anthems, the ‘Joyride’ singer turned left and since then has seemingly had her eyes set on seeing her name scribbled on pop charts.

The pursuit – which has seen the ‘All Hands on Deck’ singer try her hand at everything from EDM to emo-pop and collaborate with the likes of some of music’s biggest names (see:  Chris Brown, Britney Spears, and Nick Jonas) – has admittedly proven futile.  As such, even though she’s 3 years in the game, many still consider her a “new” or “buzzing” artist.

Tinashe believes she has the answer to that:  colorism and racism in the industry.  Recently taking to The Guardian, she discussed what she believes is the industry’s take on black women:

“There are hundreds of [male] rappers that all look the same, that sound the same, but if you’re a black woman, you’re either Beyoncé or Rihanna. It’s very, very strange.

[There was Ciara, but] it felt like they almost had to sacrifice someone because there wasn’t enough room, which isn’t true. Ciara’s an amazing artist, Beyoncé’s an amazing artist, Rihanna’s an amazing artist, and they’re all very different!”

“There’s colourism involved in the black community, which is very apparent,” she says carefully. “It’s about trying to find a balance where I’m a mixed woman, and sometimes I feel like I don’t fully fit into the black community; they don’t fully accept me, even though I see myself as a black woman. That disconnect is confusing sometimes.”

Tinashe says all the separation and setbacks with her music have been discouraging, but have never completely broken her spirit.

“It’s definitely been discouraging, and I have days where I’m less confident, but at the end I know that I’m going to get to where I need to go.”

“There’s doubt that seeps in, there’s self-deprecation, because you look to someone to blame and you can’t blame anyone but yourself, but I’ve never, ever thought, ‘I’m going to work in a mall.’”

Has Tinashe’s success narrative been impacted by the black community ‘not accepting’ her?

Weigh In!

The MTV Video Music Awards ceremony is to return to Los Angeles this year and is bringing a grand gang of stars with it!

When?

? Guess what?! The @MTV #VMAs return to Los Angeles LIVE on August 27 at 8/7c! ? pic.twitter.com/3HiKZA9xWB

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) April 20, 2017

Performers lined up to rock this year’s ceremony are yet to be announced, but fans of a number of chart staples can expect them to use the platform to launch and support their new LPs and movie projects.

Last year’s ceremony offered performances from Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Jidenna and Nick Jonas.

Your thoughts?

This week, From The Vault salutes two of the most notable artists of the 00’s.

Today’s pick comes courtesy of Nelly and Pop princess Christina Aguilera and their collaboration ‘Tilt Ya Head Back.’

Issued as the second single from Nelly’s ‘Sweat’ LP in 04, the track was developed as a duet with Britney Spears which never materialized because of her management.

It was then shopped to Janet Jackson and eventually Xtina – who would end up the Hip-Pop star’s female counterpart on the single.

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The horn-heavy number was produced by Dorian Moore and Tegemold Newton and samples Curtis Mayfield‘s ‘Superfly’.

Only reaching the 58th position of the Hot 100 (after being overshadowed by Nelly’s own  ‘My Place’), rumor has it promotion for the track was cooled because of Aguilera seemingly outshining Nelly on his own song.

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Little X directed the 1940’s inspired video which depicted Nelly as a dapper gangster who falls for a Marilyn Monroe esque Aguilera. The visual, together with the pair’s MTV VMA’s performance, led the press to believe that the pair were an item.

[Sidenote: It’s safe to say this was the very first musical and visual indicator of Aguilera’s next move, which turned out to be the ‘Back To Basics’ era.]

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Today, both names remain relevant in their own right – a testament to their respective staying power.

Musically, though…

We are salivating for new Christina material in a special kind of way.

Your thoughts?

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

So, 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 in 1999 Monica soared to the top of the Hot 100 with her hit ‘Angel of Mine.’  Lifted from ‘The Boy Is Mine‘ LP (read our ode to the album by clicking here), the angelic remake of British girl group Eternal‘s song of the same name dethroned pop princess Britney Spears’ ‘Baby One More Time’ from the tally’s perch.

Becoming Mo’s third consecutive chart-topper (as the follow-up to ‘The Boy is Mine‘ the song and ‘The First Night’), the trio of chart triumphs came as the last time Mo saw her name atop the Hot 100.  Join us below as we salute the impressive run and see who else joined her in the top 25 this week 18 years ago:

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