Smile is probably the last thing Katy Perry fans – affectionately called #KatyCats – will do after taking a peruse of the Hot 100.

The Pop bop – which lists Zedd, Charlie Puth, and Monsterz & Strangerz among its high profile craftsmen – was released as the title track and official second single from Perry’s fifth studio album (due in stores August 14).

Coming on the heels of her last top 40 hit ‘Daisies’ (as we reported here), fans undoubtedly had high hopes for ‘Smile’ as the critical acclaim rolled in upon its early July release.  The refreshed Hot 100 reveals that acclaim may not be reflected commercially, however.

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Justin Bieber is heading back on the road.

The singer’s 2020 touring plans were already marred by drama before the global health crisis. Indeed, his scheduled stadium run was downgraded to arenas and a slew of postponements followed. At the time, production issues were blamed and then eventually the onset of (what ended up being) the current health climate.

Now, Bieber is wiping away those smudges by announcing a fresh slate of dates. There appears to be other adjustments too.

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It’s been over a year since Taylor Swift last dominated the Billboard 200 with her seventh studio album, ‘Lover,’ but its reign over digital sales chart has been just as pronounced in 2020 as last year.

Most notably resurging in February following the success of her Netflix special, ‘Miss Americana’ (click here to read more), and later rising again in May thanks to the highly rated ‘City of Lover’ ABC television event.

Now, just hours after announcing its official follow-up, ‘Folklore’ (click here to read more), anxious fans have sent the 2019 effort to the top of real-time sales tallies.

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Kim Kardashian has shattered her silence.

The socialite/reality star has been notably mute about the actions of husband Kanye West – who, in just 72 hours, has slammed Harriet Tubman, implied his wife wanted to abort their daughter North, and claimed he wanted a divorce.

Now, Kardashian is speaking up and out.

Her words below…

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In the age of the household name, Pop’s brightest stars were given the time, budget and creative resources to create records designed to generate millions of dollars.

Today, in a world where many of the platforms artists would once use to promote themselves have been dissolved, the line between artists who are really making an impact in the culture and those whose careers are powered by smoke, mirrors and playlists has never been murkier.

Fortunately, the R&B titan Ro James falls into the former category.

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Broderick Hunter and Cameron J. Ross have teamed up to create a new release set to impress Hunter’s loyal following.

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Katy Perry had some carefully-worded thoughts on her former collaborator Kanye West‘s bid for president.

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With millions mourning the death of Civil Rights activist John Lewis, so too are many notable figures.

Indeed, it didn’t take long for an outpouring of emotion and appreciation to manifest following the announcement of passing aged 80.

Head below to see what the likes of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ava DuVernay, and more had to say about the the Congressman and pioneer for equality.

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Jidenna is back and aiming to blaze with new song ‘Black Magic Hour’ – the video for which arrived in tandem with the track.

Directed and produced by Wesley Walker & Sam Pressman, the visual chronicles the singer’s journey and aftermath of meeting an ancestral spirit who flips his life upside down. Literally and figuratively.

Speaking on the release (which is first for new label home Bullish Entertainment), Jidenna said:

“I think in these times the song becomes important because what I’m really speaking to is centralizing our power in a way that we channel our economic worth and we channel our spiritual worth into our lifestyle I don’t believe that we can have the economic progress that we need to empower communities without the spiritual progression. And If we do not focus there, we will never see our worth in our bodies if we don’t see our worth in our spirit.”

The release, which comes on the heels of last year’s ’85 To Africa,’ is lifted from incoming Bullish compilation project ‘African On All Sides.’

Check it out below…

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Megan Thee Stallion sent shockwaves across the internet when she responded to the drama surrounding Tory Lanez‘s gun possession arrest by revealing that she had been shot.

She’s been noticeably mute in the time since, but reports have not only labelled the Canadian star the aggressor – he’s being investigated for assault with a deadly weapon.

The internet has been glued to the narrative, with social media erupting with memes and more (such as the “Who Shot Meg?” trend).

Now, Megan has weighed-in and is making clear: this is serious and has seriously affected her.

Her words below…

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Teyana Taylor may be pregnant, but she’s not backing down from jabs.

For, moments ago, the R&B singer found herself at the center of a spar with Mykki Blanco. 

A performer and transgender activist, Blanco featured on Taylor’s jam ‘WTP (Work That P**sy’ – which is lifted from 2018 album ‘K.T.S.E.’

Yet, in a heated social media entry, the 34-year-old blasted the experience and lamented non-payment for their services.

Taking specific aim at Taylor, several accusations were hurled – including allegations of negative bias surrounding their HIV status.

Taylor was having none of it.

The exchange after the jump…

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Raleigh Ritchie has returned.

The multi-hyphenate talent has unwrapped ‘Andy’ – his first studio album in four years.

Comprised of 12 resonating tracks, the set follows breakthrough effort ‘You’re A Man Now, Boy.’ It also arrives on the heels of a revered performance at Glastonbury with Stormzy and a lengthy spell in HBO hit ‘Game Of Thrones.’

With a fresh perspective and ample growth artistically, Ritchie re-affirms why he remains one of music’s most magnetic talents.

That Grape Juice caught up with the the star (born Jacob Anderson), who opened up about ‘Andy,’ the diverse nature of his career, and the importance of “doing you” at all costs.

Join us below for an insightful interview with Raleigh Ritchie…

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