Welcome to another edition of ‘The Stream Scene‘, the ‘That Grape Juice’ original feature shining a light on digital feats made by Pop & R&B’s biggest movers and shakers!

Launched in response to the inclusion of streaming points in many a chart across the globe, each edition will see us breakdown the facts and figures behind by each member of ‘The Scene’s release!

So, which four acts made it into ‘The Click Clique’ this time?

Find out below!

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Less than a month after giving birth to first child Royal Reign, Lil Kim is back on the scene.

The Hip-Hop star, who turned 40 years old on Friday, capped off a week of celebration by attending the New Jersey stop on Beyonce and Jay Z‘s ‘On The Run Tour’.

‘Lighters Up’ rapper Kim was invited to attend the show by the power couple, much to her delight.

Writing on Instagram yesterday before the show, she gushed:

Just got my birthday gift from @beyonce @s_c_ and Lenny @kodaklens backstage passes to the On the Run tour tonight!!! I’m on my way with my boo @kimbellasworld !!! Can’t wait to see this amazing show and catch up with my friends!!! #OTR #ontherun #tour #beyonce #jayz #lilkim

Sweet.

As many know, Kim has known Jigga since the onset of her career and is “said” to have even been close to signing with Roc Nation at a point in recent times.

Peep more snaps below…

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For many, Brandy‘s talent is ‘Magic’. It’s fitting, then, that The Vocal Bible has released a cover of Coldplay‘s song of the same name.

Unwrapped without much fanfare on Twitter this weekend, the cut has quickly gained traction and is even being hailed as better than the original – which served as the lead single from the group’s latest album ‘Ghost Stories’.

With B-Rocka currently working on the follow-up to 2012’s ‘Two Eleven’, we’re almost certain this was rolled out to gage what the masses are thirsty for from her with this hotly anticipated project.

Take a listen and, as ever, let us know what you think below…

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Ever keen to broaden our musical scope, recent months have seen That Grape Juice venture into a number of new musical landscapes including, most recently, gospel.

Spearheaded by well-received interviews with gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker, Twinkie Clark, Fred Hammond, Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp, Micah Stampley, Joshua Rogers, and more, TGJ is now offering readers ‘The Overflow’ – a collection of the top gospel-themed news stories from the week.

Tuck in below for the latest news on Katy Perry, Lecrae, Kim Burrell, Jason Nelson, Vashawn Mitchell, Tasha Page Lockhart, Yolanda Adams, 3WB (3 Winans Brothers), and more:

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As the reigning King of Pop, Michael Jackson has hits of the major, moderate, and minor persuasions. The common theme? He has H-I-T-S!

This week’s From The Vault pick pays homage to one of the late singer’s more muted chart successes – 1991’s ‘In The Closet’.

Produced by Teddy Riley, the sensually-charged track served as the third single to be lifted from MJ’s mega-selling ‘Dangerous’ album. Beyond boasting an edgy title, the said LP houses some of Jackson’s most progressive and provocative material  – with ‘Closet’ standing as one of the most prominent examples.

Previous releases such as ‘Thriller’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, and ‘Bad’ saw Michael become renown for his left-field approach to songwriting; an approach which saw him largely deviate from the well-treaded music narratives of “love” and “sex” in favour of more wholesome/all-encompassing themes. However, with ‘In The Closet’ the King through a curveball and drew on those exact topics. Put simply, he embraced the racy.

And while modern times have seen artists push the envelope with adult themes, MJ’s move – at the time – was seen as relatively revolutionary. Indeed, here stood the world’s biggest and most mass appealing act belting the lyrics “there’s something about you baby that makes me want to give it to you”. It excited many, yet unnerved others. A polarizing response that was amplified once its accompanying video debuted.

Unlike the elaborate mini-movies that have come to define much of Jackson’s career, the visual for ‘Closet’ was a fairly simple affair. Aptly set in the Salton Sea desert in California, the clip wasn’t without titillation and served up heat aplenty. A then-rising Naomi Campbell was tapped to star opposite MJ – with the supermodel assuming the role of his love interest. By no means a timid affair, the pair danced up a storm and sent temperatures into fever-pitch with the intimate nature of their choreography.

A triangulation of the song, its video, and the hype both generated helped the single peak at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #1 on the Billboard R&B Chart). The track was also a global success, achieving top ten status in the UK, France, Australia, and many other countries. Still, in following the two super smashes that preceded it (‘Black Or White’ and ‘Remember The Time’), ‘Closet’ is often treated as a “lesser hit” and is routinely forgotten in retrospectives on MJ’s iconic discography.

Yet, like the impact of Jackson himself, we here at That Grape Juice will never forget. Ever.

Fun Fact: Did you know that ‘In The Closet’ was initially conceived as a collaboration between Michael and…Madonna?! The legendary pair began working on concepts for the song, however MJ vetoed the idea after feeling like Madge’s vision for the track was too provocative. We can only imagine.

Your thoughts?

A decade after her passing in Bouches-du-Rhône, France, the daughter of singer Nina Simone has penned an unflattering tell-all piece on the pianist, revealing that she was often attacked and neglected by the entertainer.

Her story below…

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Fierce quintet Fifth Harmony continued their ascension on ‘The Today Show’ this week, where they rocked the house with their latest single ‘Bo$$’.

The blazing cut, which – in paying homage to the likes of Michelle Obama and Oprah – serves as a modern spin on the much treaded on “girl power” narrative, has ignited iTunes following its release last week.

Hoping to give the hard-hitter an added push, the X Factor US birthed belles delivered quite the live performance.

Check it out below…

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As earlier reported, Beyonce and Jay Z‘s blockbuster ‘On The Run Tour’ is heading to HBO this September.

Currently thrilling stadiums Stateside before heading over to Paris for an exclusive European run, the show’s cable debut was met with a mixed response as it more than likely means the addition of no further days.

Hoping to appease the power couple’s legion of fans, HBO have unwrapped a titillating teaser for the concert’s TV premiere.

Check it out below…

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August 22nd 2014.

The above marks the spot for ‘America’s Next Top Model‘s 21st cycle this year, set to rock the date with its return to ‘The CW.’

Standing as the second season to welcome male contestants to the catwalk, the series welcomes the return of runway coach Ms.J, who replaces former judge Rob Evans who cut ties with the show last year!

What this year’s run will offer?

Find out below!

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At the strike of 12am tomorrow, Nicole Scherzinger‘s new single ‘Your Love’ arrives on iTunes UK.

In a bid to give The-Dream penned production a potent push, the former Pussycat Doll has mounted an aggressive TV campaign.

The latest stop was ITV1’s ‘Loose Women’, where Scherzinger and her band rocked out to the song – which is her first for new label Sony Music. {As reported, the diva is now signed with Sony subsidiary RCA in the UK and is said to be heading to Epic Stateside}.

Watch her showing after the jump…

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Since bursting onto the charts last year, R&B newcomer August Alsina has cemented himself as one of the genre’s most exciting prospects. It’s no surprise, then, that his spark has attracted a number of notable names.

The latest is a certain Nicki Minaj – who has joined forces with the New Orleans native for the latest single to be lifted from his debut album ‘Testimony’.

Find out what track it’ll be below…

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He may have worked nearly 30 years to earn his rightful title as “The King of R&B,” but now it seems R. Kelly – much like R&B successors Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, and Usher – is looking to extend his reign into other musical territories.  After confirming that he would be releasing 3 albums in 2014 (click here if you missed that), Kelly has now announced that he’s hard at work on a new project…a House album.

Taking to ‘Chicago’s Chosen Few DJ’s picnic recently, the ‘Step in the Name of Love’ singer dropped the news that you’ll be stepping to a different beat of his…and soon.

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