In our quest to bring you a behind the scenes look at those who “make the magic happen,” the latest instalment of our ‘Meets The Makers’ feature spotlights production duo Sons of Sonix.

Originally hailing from London, England, S.O.S are comprised of LA-based music maestros Mikey Akin & Mo Samuels. 

While still on the rise, the potent pair already helmed hits for the likes of Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Trey Songz, and Skepta. 

That Grape Juice caught up with Mikey, who lifted the lid on duo’s journey, including the parts of the music industry you don’t see. He also dished on working with Bieber and what’s to come from Ms. Jackson.

Join us below….

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Oprah Winfrey is to explore COVID-19’s horrific impact on African-American lives in a TV special she is currently creating.

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Few voices have earned the reverence rendered to R&B/Soul maestra Ledisi and, after one listen to those powerhouse pipes, it’s easy to see why.

As if garnering praise from industry contemporaries and even legends like Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, and The Clark Sisters wasn’t enough, the 12-time Grammy nominee has also thrilled audiences across the globe for over 20 years with hits like ‘Pieces of Me,’ ‘Goin’ Thru Changes,’ ‘I Blame You,’ ‘High,’ and more.

Now, nearly three years after ruling R&B charts with her last album, ‘Let Love Rule,’ the Urban A/C Queen is royally blessing her legion of fans with ‘Anything For You’ – the kick off single from her yet-titled, soon-to-be-released ninth studio album.

Ahead of its arrival, Ledisi exclusively sat down with That Grape Juice to dish on the new project, venturing into acting, and so much more.  

*Ledisi Shouts Out That Grape Juice*

Look inside to see the interview:

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Contemporarily, commercial comebacks don’t come any bigger than Mariah Carey‘s trailblazing return to supremacy with ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’

A legendary body of work that is now celebrating its 15th anniversary.

Prior to its release on April 12th 2005, the diva’s career was on uncertain terrain.

The tanking of 2001’s ‘Glitter’ effectively KO’d her colossal Virgin Records deal and 2002 follow-up ‘Charmbracelet’ (her first release for Island Def Jam) did not deliver commercially — despite favourable reviews and media omnipresence on the promo trail.

Fortunately for the songbird, the latter LP – her first under the tutelage of LA Reid – would prove to be the calm before the seismic storm.

For, following the one-two punch thrown by ‘Emancipation’s preceding singles ‘It’s Like That’ and ‘We Belong Together,’ Mariah would go on to ignite one of the hottest streaks of her illustrious career. And blaze her way to the top of the Pop cultural landscape.

With ‘Mimi,’ the star earned her 16th and 17th #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, was certified 6x Platinum in the US (pure sales), and sold 12 million copies of the album worldwide. Very much a Tina Turner ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ moment for the 00s. And arguably a story and level of success that has yet to be seen since.

In salute of the set’s landmark anniversary, which notably comes months after Carey’s 19th #1 and weeks after her 50th birthday, That Grape Juice have tallied our top tracks from ‘The Emancipation Of Mimi.’

Check out the list below…

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Exactly a year after murmurs of a Katy Perry Las Vegas residency first the hit newswire, the singer herself has seemingly confirmed it.

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It may be some time before you’ll be able to see your favourite Pop star in concert.

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Diddy welcomed a surprise guest on to his Instagram Live coronavirus relief fundraiser.

Her name? Jennifer Lopez.

More on the exes reunion below…

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The Far Right character Candace Owen has found a foe in Jackee Harry.

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After thrilling audiences with biographical films that chronicled the lives of some of music history’s most celebrated female vocalists (i.e. Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton Britney Spears, etc.), Lifetime is turning the spotlight on Gospel’s reigning royal family – The Clark Sisters.

Premiering tonight (April 11) at 8/7c, ‘The First Ladies Of Gospel: The Clark Sisters’ stars Emmy-nominated actress Aunjanue Ellis as the group’s mother (“Mattie”), Christina Bell (“Twinkie”), Kierra Sheard (“Karen”), Sheléa Frazier (“Dorinda”), Raven Goodwin (“Denise”), and Angela Birchett (“Jacky”).

Ahead of its small screen arrival, ‘First Ladies’ – based on the trailer alone – has already garnered acclaim for its accompanying soundtrack (click here to listen), costuming and design, and more.

Now, after invitation to a private screening, That Grape Juice is among the critics lauding the biopic and has compiled a list of 5 reasons why it was an absolute knockout!

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Selena Gomez‘s search for a boyfriend led her to the studio to record the announcement and include it on the recently released deluxe edition of her latest album, ‘Rare.’

Released Thursday (April 9), Gomez sent fans into a frenzy with news her song – ‘Boyfriend’ – would see its accompanying music video premiered the next day.  Dishing on the tune, the singer-actress said:

“It’s a lighthearted song about falling down and getting back up time and time again in love, but also knowing that you don’t need anyone other than yourself to be happy. We wrote it long before our current crisis, but in the context of today, I want to be clear that a boyfriend is no where near the top of my list of priorities. Just like the rest of the world, I’m praying for safety, unity, and recovery during this pandemic.”

Watch the video inside:

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‘I Feel It Comin’ crooner The Weeknd felt Usher‘s 2012 hit, ‘Climax,’ was strangely similar to some of the music he’d created the year prior – namely his 2011 song, ‘House of Balloons.’

In a tell-all interview with Variety (as we reported here), the 30-year-old asserted his entry into the Pop music realm not only changed the genre but also influenced the work of a number of artists whose works followed.

But, while Elijah Blake – the man credited with writing the lyrics to the Usher song in question – took to social media Wednesday (April 8) to slam the notion of copying (click here to read more on that), Diplo (the tune’s producer) is siding with Weeknd (like we reported here).

Once Dip’s comments got to the desk of Blake, the singer-songwriter had a fiery response.  See it inside:

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At 32-years-young, award-winning Gospel siren Kierra Sheard is already a music industry veteran of 20+ years.

Heiress to the Clark dynasty, Sheard’s Urban-tinged Gospel hits like ‘You Don’t Know’, ‘Why Me,’ ‘Indescribable,’ and more – have seen her step out of her family’s legendary shadow to stomp her own path in the genre’s history books.  The positioning is one she’ll undoubtedly reassert with the arrival of her long awaited self-titled new album, ‘Kierra’ (in stores April 17).

That Grape Juice recently caught up with the ‘It Keeps Happening’ singer to dish on her latest happenings, which is highlighted by her highly anticipated film debut aboard the forthcoming Lifetime ‘Clark Sisters’ biopic (set for an April 11 premiere).

Look inside to read on this and more:

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