For reasons good, bad, ugly, and everything in between, 2023 was one for the books!

As the year draws to a close, That Grape Juice is reflecting on the occasions that rocked – and to some degree – maybe even reshaped the Urban and Pop cultural landscape as we know it.

Next, we’re revisiting how Black women rocked the 2023 GRAMMYs to historic measure.

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Dante Bowe is blazing a trail and doing so on his own terms.

Having earned accolades in earnest as part of Maverick City Music, the gifted star is shining solo.

This summer brought with it the release of his eclectic self-titled debut, which is home to fan favorites such as ‘Wind Me Up’ and ‘Fire.’

Igniting his heat streak the more, Bowe is gearing up to perform at the Soul Train Awards 2023 in what promises to be a must-see showing.

Ahead of the performance, That Grape Juice caught up with the singer who is clearly poised to make a renewed mark.

Our exclusive interview with Donte Bowe awaits below…

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Having already secured ranking on Rolling Stone‘s ‘500 Best Songs of All Time’ (#426), Nicki Minaj is no stranger to seeing her 2011 megahit ‘Super Bass‘ lauded for its enduring legacy.

The historic Diamond-certified smash, which still stands as the most popular member of her prized discography over a decade after its release, got its most recent homage courtesy of Billboard’s ‘500 Best Pop Songs.’

There, it not only towered above every other female rapper’s placement but also made the 40-year-old the second-highest placed Black woman overall, runner-up only to Pop icon Whitney Houston who finished at #1 on the tally with her timeless classic ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’

Look inside to see what number ‘Bass’ bounced to on Billboard’s coveted count.

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Only five female acts can boast watching their first albums score a Diamond plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA):  Norah Jones, Lauryn Hill, Jewel, Britney Spears, and Whitney Houston.  The certification measure denotes sales equivalence of 10 million in the United States.

Houston held the record for highest-certified female debut LP for her self-titled 1985 effort for nearly two decades before Spears’ ‘Baby One More Time’ crossed the 14x Platinum threshold in 2004 (just five years after its release).

This week (nearly two decades after the Pop princess Britney grabbed the crown), Whitney’s inaugural opus seems poised to reclaim the throne.

Details inside.

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Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective segments, ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay,’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our latest feature –  Chart Rewind – serves as a variation of our Retro Rewind assay to salute an entire era of music history.

This week, we’re revisiting one of the hottest female Rap hits of all time – Foxy Brown‘s 1999 smash ‘Hot Spot.’

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The iHeartRadio Music Awards, one of music’s biggest nights, has announced the star-studded nominations roster for its 2023 edition.

Airing live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 27, the event – now in its 10th year – toasts the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2022.

Leading this year’s highly competitive list are Lizzo, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles – who garnered 7 nods apiece.  Behind them, Drake, Dua Lipa, and Bad Bunny are among the big names who nabbed 6 mentions while Doja Cat and Beyoncé are among the acts who have 5 each.

Ahead of handing out its coveted trophies and announcing which stage-blazing acts will be added to the performance bill, look inside to see the full list of 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards nominees.

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It’s not a bird…not a plane…it’s ‘Super Freaky Girl’ – the latest single from Rap Queen Nicki Minaj – that serves as this week’s crowned champion of the Billboard Hot 100.

Soaring to the top of the tally with the year’s biggest first-week sales, the Dr. Luke-produced tune proved to be just what the doctor ordered in many ways.  Boasting global dominance of digital platforms since its August 12 unveiling, the song’s ongoing commercial performance not only reminds us of just how big of a superstar Nicki remains over a decade into her career but also reasserts her position as a groundbreaking and record-breaking musical phenom.

Look inside to see 8 ways ‘Super’ rocked history books this week.

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Grace Franklin – the granddaughter of the late Aretha Franklin – is ready for her time to shine.

More details below…

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By comparison, Rap is easily music’s most collaborative genre.

In fact, some of Hip Hop history’s biggest hits have come as the result of some heavyweight tag teams on a track – a nod to the age old adage of ‘strength in numbers.’ Yet, while there is a noteworthy class of emcees who have made indelible marks on the charts by their lonesome, the ladies of the male-dominated genre can’t exactly boast that frequency.

Making the achievement all the more toast-worthy when it does occur, this week saw rising rapstress Latto join an exclusive list of female Hip Hop hitmakers when her latest single, ‘Big Energy,‘ made big moves into the Hot 100’s top 40.

To celebrate, we’re raising a glass to the entire club of femcees who have brought the same energy – for and by themselves.

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Chloe Bailey is booked and busy and the latest stop on the turbo-charged promotional campaign for single ‘Have Mercy’ was Elle‘s Song Association. 

Appearing on the platform solo, after first playing the game with sister Halle two years ago, the 23-year-old songbird took vocal flight with tracks from the likes of Solange, Lady Gaga, and Lauryn Hill. She also peppered in a few of her own jams too.

The feature comes ahead of Bailey’s performance at tomorrow night’s American Music Awards 2021.

Check it out below…

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‘Ready or Not’ the Fugees have postponed their hotly anticipated comeback tour.

Full story below…

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Nas continues to promote his new music.

This time around, he shared the video for his song ‘Brunch On Sundays.’ However, he made it a star-studded affair.

In the visual, Nas is joined by several of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as: LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Swizz Beatz, Hit-Boy, Cordae, and Lil Rel Howery.

The video’s plot centers on having brunch with your loved ones after a long weekend and enjoying their company.

‘Brunch On Sundays’ can be found on Nas’ latest album, ‘King’s Disease II’ (stream it here). The project previously peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200.

Watch the Omar Jones-directed clip for ‘Brunch On Sundays’ below…

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