Nearly seven years have separated fans of singer/songwriter Maxwell from new material from the Grammy winner, but that long wait drew to a close today thanks to the release of his latest project ‘blackSUMMERS’night.’

The second installment of a trilogy of albums of the same name (with different emphases), ‘SUMMERS’ has big footsteps to follow given its predecessor’s whopping 316,000 units sold first week.  And, while the new project’s lead single – ‘Lake By the Ocean’ – has made quite the splash on charts (currently buoyed at #1 on R&B charts) – there is an admitted absence of buzz around this installment compared to its platinum-selling forerunner.

Add to this a change in musical landscape (see:  shift in consumption, trap music, etc.) in conjunction with Drake‘s ongoing domination of streaming (an outlet Max’s overall SPS figure will probably benefit least from), it’s pretty clear the ‘Pretty Wings’ singer has an uphill battle before him.

But, if there’s anything his fanbase is proven, is that they’re patient and loyal…

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Vic Mensa isn’t impressed with Justin Timberlake‘s relationship with music of black origin.

Why the rapper feels Timberlake has benefitted from the field’s highs…and lows?

His explanation below…

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‘Making a Murderer’ is the name of Joe Budden‘s lyrical assault on rivals Drake & Meek Mill.

Named after the controversial Netflix series, the cut houses razor sharp lyrics from the lyricist penned to sting Jay-Z and the aforementioned rivals following his departure from the ‘Love & Hip Hop’ family.

Press play below to check it out…

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The first wave of ‘America‘s Next Top Model’ came to an end after 22 cycles last year.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the concept was picked by Viacom’s VH1 who are to revive the series with a new judging panel.

Why this spells good news for Rita Ora?

She’s “reportedly” been handpicked to step into Tyra Banks‘ role!

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Apple is reportedly sizing its rising rival TIDAL up this week.

Find out why below…

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Here at That Grape Juice, we’re enamored with the talent of today, but also the rising stars of tomorrow.

Enter Jodie Abacus.

Reared in South-London, the Pop-Funk singer/songwriter has been attracting the attention of music lovers – thanks largely to recent EP ‘For Real Life And Not Pretend.’  

Tracks such as ‘I’ll Be That Friend’ have garnered praise for cutting deep in the most resonating of ways. The Soul-soaked song recalls a time when in the singer’s life all went south and he didn’t have a friend to turn to. Veering away from the “same ol,” lyrically ‘I’ll Be’ sees the rising star swear to be that confidant to someone else when in need.

Also in his repertoire is Coca-Cola endorsement of ‘Hot Kitchen,’ which has been play-listed by the BBC and current single, ‘She’s In Love With The Weekend’ – available to listen to below…

With in album in the works, Jodie is cooking up jams with the likes of Tobias Jesso Jr and Duke Durmont.

We’re buzzed for what’s to come. Take a listen above and let us know if you are too!

Your thoughts?

Hailing from Brazil is the Pop purveyor that is Puzzle, the Lauryn Hill-inspired Electro-Pop musician standing in front and behind the number ‘Comedown.’

I just think the world’s become a little bit boring. Everyone has access to everything but why do what everyone else is doing.

With the above in mind there’s no doubt he seeks to strike new ground with the number waiting for you below.

Has he achieved his mission?

Press play and weigh in below…

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Jason Derulo is quite the busy bee these days.

As if judging and mentoring duties on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ doesn’t keep him tied up enough, the Haitian hitmaker is reportedly putting the finishing touches on his yet-titled fifth album. But, before fans can get their hands on a new drop from Derulo, they’re invited to celebrate his 6-year career with a greatest hits package featuring 12 of his biggest hits.

Curious to know when you can join Jason on memory lane?  Get the details below and catch his ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ visit with Flo Rida if you missed it from earlier this week:

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At this point it’s looking like it’s going to take an act of Congress to get Drake to move from the top spot of the Billboard 200.

For, after celebrating his 8th consecutive week atop the album chart (fending off steep competition from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), industry analysts predict ‘Views’ will be enjoying the view from the top yet again next week.

Fans who thought the anticipated increased sales of Beyonce‘s ‘Lemonade’ (thanks to a rocking BET Awards performance) and increased streams of Adele‘s blockbuster album ’25’ (thanks to recently widened streaming availability) would be enough to unseat the Grammy winning rapper apparently thought wrong.

Get the scoop inside:

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We may be only a day away from the highly anticipated release of Maxwell‘s newest album, ‘blackSUMMERS’night,’ but the next few hours seem like nothing after a nearly 7 year wait.

Indeed, 2009 was the last time we got a full body of work from the Grammy winning crooner who recently revealed the wait was due to having to sift through over 300 songs to narrow down ‘SUMMERS’ – the second installment in a trilogy of similarly themed albums – to its present 12-song tracklist.

With only hours separating them from part 2 of the trio of opuses, some fans have already begun anticipating its follow-up [blacksummers’NIGHT] with fear there may be another 6-7 year wait before they can get their hands on it.  However, a recent chat with our friends at ‘EW’ should ease those fears as the singer not only revealed why he took such a lengthy break, but also that part 3 is already nearly completed!

Details on what you should expect from it await 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 week we try (and fail) at doing our best hip roll to Shakira‘s hit single ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ featuring Wyclef Jean.  Though this week in 2006 brought with it the song’s dethronement from the top of the Hot 100 by the year’s ‘American Idol’ winner Taylor Hicks, by the time he hopped over ‘Hips’ to occupy the tally’s perch, the damage had long been done by the Colombian beauty.

Topping the charts in over 50 countries worldwide during its prime, ‘Hips’ lent Shakira her first and only #1 single (to date) on the Billboard Hot 100.  Going on to sell nearly 20 million copies, the song was not only the most successful release of 2006, but still reigns as one of the best-selling tunes of all time – thanks in no small part to a rocking video that featured the return of hip-rolling choreography that brought Shaki to U.S. fame a few years prior (see: ‘Whenever, Wherever’).

Tuck in below to see if any of your faves from today can be spotted on the Hot 100’s lineup this week 10 years ago:

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As one of the world’s most monumental mega-stars, Beyonce has mastered the art of not just making music – but making “moments.”

One of her most profound was unleashed this February in the form of ‘Formation.’

An unapologetic celebration of her Blackness (and that of millions the world over), the cut and its accompanying video drew both praise and critique. More than anything, it ignited much needed conversation – which perhaps is where it’s greatest success lay. [The song would go on to enjoy a #10 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 months later when released with the singer’s sixth album ‘Lemonade’].

That Grape Juice caught up with one of the song’s primary writers – Swae Lee from duo Rae Sremmurd – at the 2016 BET Awards and quizzed him on what it was like working with the Queen Bey on the track. 

See what he had to say above and peep the award-winning video for ‘Formation’ below…

Rae Sremmurd’s new single ‘Do Yoga‘ is out now; as is their album ‘Sremm Life 2′ arrives August 12th.

Your thoughts?