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?

Chris Brown‘s admiration for British rappers is well-documented.

A featured act on Chip‘s Harmony Samuels-produced ‘Champion’, the vocalist’s short but sweet foray into the nation’s Urban music scene has been extended today by way of ‘Shabba‘, a cut which features the Section Boyz.

The entertainer is currently crafting and collecting material for his next studio album with help from the British singer/songwriter Daecolm and drops his latest effort to support the release.

Press play below…

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New music alert!

This time it’s from ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry‘ belter Fergie who relaunches her comeback campaign with new single ‘MILF$.’

The jam follows the short-lived hype scored by ‘LA Love (La La)’ in 2014 and comes armed with a visual that’s said to feature Kim Kardashian and R&B ‘Queen’ Ciara.

Listen below…

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Another day, another Rihanna video.

The Bajan belle is going gun-blazing in an attempt to make up for commercial slow burner that is her new album ‘ANTI.’

Over the last few months, the 28-year-old has been releasing a slew of songs not featured on the set (which has thus far only spurned the hit ‘Work’ and the promising ‘Needed Me’). The latest is the Sia spun ‘Sledgehammer.’

Lifted from the ‘Star Trek: Beyond’ movie soundtrack, the single is being given an all-out push.

At the top of the hour, it was launched in IMAX Theaters and now it’s available to watch online. And we’ve got the first play. Check it out below…

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Demand for Lionel Richie tickets has forced the ‘Hello‘ crooner to make an exciting move to ensure his supporters are able to catch him in live action this summer.

Good news below…

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Already heated news around the highly publicized relationship woes, and consequent split, of Grammy-nominated star Iggy Azalea and LA Laker Nick Young was given a fresh douse of gasoline recently when reports revealed exactly what caused the failure of their engagement.

Despite rumours of several breakups and makeups over the course of their union, the ‘Fancy’ belle has revealed what the rapper’s final straw was.

Infidelity.

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Jackie Christie, Brandi Maxiell and Malaysia Pargo front the latest season of VH1’s ‘Basketball Wives LA‘, returning to VH1 to jump into more lowbrow action for its fifth season.

How the show’s leading ladies celebrated the July 17th arrival of the series’ new spin in the TV machine? By unlocking its trailer.

Watch below…

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The California-based Hip-Hop act Jack and Jack have learned that messages one of its members published about African-Americans have revived themselves to haunt him.

Bad news below…

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When not reading his name atop Billboard charts, multi-talented producer Pharrell Williams is taking time out of his busy schedule to teach children about the importance of reading.

Joining a long-list of hitmakers who have slid their heels across Sesame Street (see:  Prince, Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys, and many more), the ageless Williams comes as the latest Grammy winner to bring his musical talents to the history-making children’s show.

Ready for an overdose of cuteness?  Tuck in to see P sing his “newest tune” – ‘B Is For Books’:

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The battle for the Billboard 200’s top spot proves yet again that all – and we do mean all – is fair in love and war.

Drake, whose streams of his latest album ‘Views’ have literally dominated the history books and current charts, was set to finally be ousted from the top spot this week thanks to legendary rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers and their new album, ‘The Getaway.’

A turn of events came when, during the last two days of the Nielsen tracking week, Drizzy and team gave his SPS numbers a boost after a sale saw the album’s price slashed to $6.99.

The result?

Drake’s ‘Views’ holds tight to the #1 position on the Billboard 200 for an 8th consecutive week – with just 6,000 copies difference between he and the Peppers.  But, just in case you were wondering where all of your other favorites landed on this week’s refreshed chart, you can look below to find out:

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