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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’re working on trying to keep still while listening to ‘Work It’ – the lead single from Missy Elliott‘s 2002 album, ‘Under Construction’ (read more about it here).  Crafted by Elliott and longtime collaborator Timbaland, the synth-heavy bop leapt onto the mid-September charts of that year.  Barely a month later it reached the #2 spot where it would stay for a record 10 weeks.

Held at bay by Grammy-winning rapper Eminem and his #1 hit ‘Lose Yourself,’ ‘Work’s inability to top the Hot 100 hardly made it a failure.  With its charismatic video showing off Elliott’s jaw-dropping weight loss, creativity, and festive dance moves to help it, the tune went on to gain platinum status.

Relive the magic and tuck in below to see who joined Em and M.E. on the singles chart this week 14 years ago:

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Despite the absence of a hit single to lead it, Alicia Keys’ new album, ‘Here,’ still managed to make an impressive debut on the Billboard 200.

Fending off new offerings from Hip Hop hitmakers Rae Sremmurd, the star-studded ‘Trolls’ soundtrack, Common, and more, the Keys’ project – featuring tunes ‘Blended Family,’ ‘Holy War,’ and ‘In Common’ – debuted at #2 and marks the singer/songwriter’s 7th top 2 debut (five of those entries debuted at #1).

And, while the album’s standing next week will be interesting to see as ‘Here’ also marks her lowest first week sales to date (of a studio album), we’ll celebrate the accomplishment while we can. Tuck in below to see where everyone else landed on this week’s refreshed TGJ Chart Check:

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Rae Sremmurd‘s ‘Black Beatles’ has been remixed by Nicki Minaj.

The name of her take on the Billboard Hot 100 #1? ‘Black Barbies.’

On it, the rapper takes aim at her Hip-Hop opponents, mocks their financial hardships and gives her fans good reason to look forward to the release of the studio album she, and a troop of super producers dotted around the globe, are hard at work on.

Listen below…

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2016 continues to be kind to Drake.

The Grammy-winning rapper, whose album ‘Views’ not only topped the charts for months but also reigns as the year’s best-seller, is now blessing the Hot 100 with entries from another project due before the year’s end – ‘More Life.’

But, before fans are able to get their hands on the project in full, gems from its tracklist are already making appearances all over the Hot 100.  To date, the most successful of the new releases is undoubtedly ‘Fake Love’:

Billboard reports:

…Drake‘s “Fake Love” vaults 24-10 in its second chart week. Following its first full week of tracking, the song zooms 28-6 on Streaming Songs (17.2 million, up 121 percent), although it slips 5-10 on Digital Song Sales (43,000, down 25 percent). It also crowns the audio subscription services-based On-Demand Songs streaming chart, bolting 8-1 (17.1 million on-demand clicks, up 120 percent) to become his record-breaking fifth No. 1 on the tally (which launched in March 2012); he passes Bieber, with four.

“Fake” is Drake’s 18th Hot 100 top 10, the third-most among rappers. Jay Z leads with 21, followed by Lil Wayne with 19; Ludacris also boasts 18. (Drake breaks a tie with Eminem, who’s earned 17 top 10s.)”

Impressive!  See who else joined Drizzy in this week’s top 10:

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Musical partners DJ Esco and Future take their union to the next level with the latest single ‘Married to the Game.’

The latest visual lifted from ‘Project E.T.:  Esco Terrestrial,’ the duo bring forth a star-studded video to help lift the tune up charts.

Tuck in below to catch cameos from the likes of Drake, Pusha T, Rae Sremmurd, Gucci Mane, and more:

 

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If you thought the ‘Suicide Squad’s grip on the top of the Billboard 200 was loosening, you thought wrong.  Despite earning some stiff competition from new releases from the likes of Rae Sremmurd and PARTYNEXTDOOR and top 10 mainstays Drake, Rihanna, and Adele, the film’s soundtrack is holding firm to the album chart’s #1 position.

Billboard reports:

The Suicide Squad soundtrack holds at No. 1 for a second week on the Billboard 200 chart…

Suicide Squad earned 93,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Aug. 18, according to Nielsen Music (down 49 percent), with 50,000 of that sum comprised of traditional album sales (down 61 percent).

Tuck in below to see who else is occupying the top 25 alongside the top ‘Squad’:

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To say the ‘Suicide Squad’ soundtrack is killing the competition on the Billboard 200 may be ill-stated, but true nonetheless.

Indeed, after earning its fair share of thumbs down from critics at the box office, the movie itself dominated its premiere weekend in theaters to the tune of $133.6 million (breaking August box office records in the process). This week saw its official soundtrack, featuring contributions from the likes of Kehlani, Rick Ross, and Kanye West, Eminem, Rae Sremmurd, and many more, mirror its success by blasting to the top of the Billboard 200 on the wings of 182,000 sold (128,000 of this sum were traditional sales).

Ousting last week’s chart champion, DJ Khaled, from the perch, tuck in below to find out where all of your other favorites of the day landed under the Suicide Squad soundtrack…

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Time sure flies!

It’s been a week since the 2016 BET Awards and, like many, we’re still on a high from what was a phenomenal show.

That Grape Juice was in the house for what the annual special’s 16th anniversary. And while on the carpet, we caught up with a host of notable names.

‘Chasing Destiny’s’ Frank Gatson chatted it up about what to expect from June’s Diary – the girl group he created alongside Kelly Rowland on the show.

Akon also dished on winning the Global Good Award ahead of the telecast; Jacob Latimore spilled on new music; and ‘Rise Up’ songstress Andra Day opened up about her relationship with Stevie Wonder.

The likes of ‘Empire’s Yazz The Greatest, LeToya Luckett, Beyonce stylist Ty Hunter, Rae Sremmurd, Anderson, .Paak and more also showed love.

Your thoughts?

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The BET Awards 2016 certainly provided many a notable moment courtesy of the host of music stars who took to the stage.

Now, after show-stopping performances from Beyonce, Usher, Alicia Keys, Maxwell, Bryson Tiller, and more, see who walked away with the show’s biggest star – its coveted trophies!

A full winners’ list awaits below:

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It’s that time of year again!

The BET Awards 2016 are set to air live from the Microsoft Theater at L.A Live on Sunday June 26th.

As always, all eyes are on who’ll be up for nominations at Urban music’s biggest calendar night.

Well, wonder no more. For, the nominees list has been revealed. Drake – whose ‘VIEWS’ era has been all sorts of a win – leads with a mighty nine, Beyonce and Rihanna lead with five apiece and Adele even earned an honor.

The full list awaits below…

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2016’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival kicked off in California hours ago and welcomed the likes of Interscope sisters Fergie and Lana Del Rey to celebrate its first day.

Pictured together, the ladies enjoyed performances by Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Rae Sremmurd and Ellie Goulding.

Pics from their wild night out below…

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SWV, Tinashe & Iggy Azalea.

Fans of the acts above will know that what they share in common is the exciting fact that they are to, or in SWV‘s case, already have dropped new albums in 2016.

Today, Beyonce‘s stylist,Ty Hunter, has confirmed that she too will be dropping a new album.

That isn’t all.

Details below….

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