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

So, 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 serving up a taste of ‘Sweet Escape,’ the title track and second single from Gwen Stefani‘s sophomore album.  Released in 2007 after the top 10 smash, ‘Wind It Up,’ the former No Doubt diva tapped rapper/producer Akon to assist ‘Escape’s run to similar heights on the Hot 100.   An international hit that eventually peaked at #2 on the U.S. charts, this week the cut broke into the top 5 and – as of time reported – remains her last entry into the Billboard Hot 100’s topmost quintet of positions.

Look inside to relive the magic of ‘Sweet Escape’ and see who joined Stefani this week 11 years ago:

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Welcome to another edition of Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature launched to revisit some of entertainment’s biggest, brightest and darkest moments.

Today, we return to 2004 with fresh eyes to revisit the moment Janet Jackson’s career was ruined by a wardrobe malfunction unintentionally caused by Justin Timberlake.

Deeply unsettling.

Revisit the unforgettable moment below…

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

So, 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 thought it’d be nice to revisit ‘Nice & Slow’ – the second single from Usher Raymond‘s second album, ‘My Way.’  Penned by Raymond and Brandon & Brian Casey (twin brothers of R&B group Jagged Edge) and produced by Jermaine Dupri, the song was a hit from day one.  Debuting in the top 10 of the Hot 100 in late January 1998 (while its predecessor, ‘You Make Me Wanna,’ was still occupying a slot there as well), ‘Slow’ quickly jumped to the #1 slot just three weeks later.  Ironically dethroning Janet Jackson‘s ‘Together Again’ from the top spot (as he went on to open for her ‘Velvet Rope’ tour a few months later this year), ‘Nice & Slow’ became the Atlantan hitmaker’s first chart-topper and eventually earned a platinum certification for exceeding 1.5 million in sales.

Today, it remains a fan favorite from his hit-filled catalog.  Tuck in below to see who joined him in the top 25 this week 20 years ago:

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

So, 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 here to tell you about ‘Don’t Tell Me’ – the second single from Queen of Pop Madonna‘s 5th #1 album, ‘Music’ (2000).  The follow-up to the project’s chart-topping title track, ‘Tell Me’ took the era’s “cowgirl-inspired reincarnation” its most literal space.  Sonically, the song intertwined elements of country, pop, and electronica while its visual accompaniment saw the songstress don a cowboy hat, chaps, and get down with some honky tonk two-stepping.  Easily cementing itself in the list of one of the diva’s more memorable music videos (not an easy feat for someone with a collection of visuals as revered as Madge’s), the tune – with the help of its accompanying clip – was certified Gold and eventually moseyed all the way up to the #4 spot on the Hot 100.

Found there this week in 2001, tuck in below to relive ‘Don’t Tell Me’ and see who joined her in the top 25 this week 17 years ago:

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

So, 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 get to know Alicia Keys’ hit 2003 single ‘You Don’t Know My Name’ all over again.  Produced by Kanye West‘Name’ – a 70s-inspired, doo-wop cut – featured background vocals from then-little known singer/songwriter John Legend.  Kicking off the singer’s highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘Diary of Alicia Keys’ (click here to read our full ode to that project), the tune was a mainstay in the top 10 on the Hot 100 at its popularity height and eventually nested at #3 where it peaked this week 14 years ago.

Tuck in below to reminisce and see who joined her in the Hot 100 this week in 2004:

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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’ll exhale to the sounds of ‘Breathe Again,’ the second single from Toni Braxton‘s mega-successful eponymous debut album.  A worthy successor to the singer’s inaugural Hot 100 top 10 hit, ‘Another Sad Love Song,’ ‘Breathe’ – written and produced by serial hitmaking trios Babyface, L.A. Reid, and Darryl Simmons – was launched to U.S. outlets in summer 1993 and was a runaway hit.  Eventually peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week 23 years ago, the tune’s radio reception and sales sailed it right to a Gold certification with the RIAA.

Going on to become the most successful single from her debut album, the song’s continued domination of charts led it to a top 10 placement on 1994’s Billboard Hot 100 Year-End charts.  Look inside to relive the magic of the fan favorite and see who joined Toni in the top 25 this week that year:

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

So, 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’ll make a little time for ‘No Time,’ the debut single from rap royal Lil Kim.  Released in late 1996 as the kick off from her inaugural solo LP, ‘Hardcore,’ the Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs-produced and featured cut took approximately no time to reach the top of rap charts after its October 1996 unveiling.  Found there this week in 1997, the song would go on to be the first of a trio of chart-toppers on that tally giving Kim the distinct honor of being the first female artist to top the Rap Charts three consecutive times.

Found in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 20 this week, ‘Time’ came as the Queen Bee’s first entry into the top 20 as a leading act (peak #18).  Over 20 years later remaining one of the rapstress’s fan favorites, tuck in below to relive the gem and see who joined her in the top 25 on this week’s ‘Chart Rewind’:

 

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

So, 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 cruising back to 2000 for a look at Missy Elliott‘s ‘Hot Boyz.’  Found on her 1999-released sophomore effort, ‘Da Real World,’ the Lil Mo-featured album cut of ‘Boyz’ was already a fan favorite before it was officially released in November of that year.  Thanks to a remix featuring fellow rappers Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip, and a cinematic-style visual the rapstress was quickly becoming known for, the tune blasted to #1 peak on rap charts and #5 peak on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week the following year).

Becoming her first top 5 single as a leading act, the song – some 18 years later – remains a leader among her wealth of hits and still gets crowds moving.  Your reminder awaits 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 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’ll shake things up with ‘Milkshake,’ the first single from Grammy-nominated Urban alternative artist Kelis‘ tertiary album, ‘Tasty.’  Written and produced by The Neptunes (Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams), the tune was originally pitched to pop superstar Britney Spears but was passed on by her team in favor of other cuts that lined the ‘In the Zone’ album (click here to read our ode to that project). Landing right in the lap of singer/songwriter Kelis – who was still reeling from the commercial failure of her sophomore set, ‘Wanderland’ – her recording of ‘Milkshake’ looked to be just what the doctor ordered for her career.  Going on to become her signature song for its tongue-in-cheek lyrics and delectable instrumentation, late 2003 saw the tune quickly make its way up the Hot 100 ladder and eventually peaking at #3 this week that year.

To date ‘Milkshake’ remains her best-selling single and only release to reach the top 10 on the tally (let alone the top 5).  Join us as we travel back 14 years ago to a time when Kelis brought all the boys to the yard with this infectious bop:

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

So, 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’ll run it back to 1995 where all four of the 90’s leading ladies – Whitney Houston (‘Exhale’), Madonna (‘You’ll See’), Janet Jackson (‘Runaway’), and Mariah Carey (‘One Sweet Day,’ ‘ Fantasy’) – were all found in the Hot 100’s top 10…

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

So, 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’ll run it back to 1995’s ‘Who Can I Run To’ – Xscape‘s hit remake of the 70’s R&B classic by The Jones Girls.  Lifted as the second single from the Atlantan quartet’s sophomore album, ‘Off the Hook,’ ‘Run,’ highlighted by their unmistakable, gospel-inspired harmonies, soared to and peaked at #8 this week 22 years ago.Helping lead its parent album to platinum status, the song – over   20 years later – continues to be a fan favorite as evidenced by live performances post-their long-awaited reunion.

Tuck in below to hear ‘Who Can I Run To’ and see who joined them in the top 25 this week in 1995:

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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’ll do ‘Doo-Wop (That Thing)’ – the debut solo release from former Fugees frontwoman Lauryn Hill.  Launched late October 1998, the tune – written and produced by Hill – became the first debut single of any artist in history to debut at #1 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year).  A signature of the singer’s for its hard-hitting subject matter cloaked in a sonic fusion of Motown-inspired doo wop and hip hop, the song went on to Gold status before earning a few golden Gramophones at the 1999 Grammys – Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance specifically.  Helping lead its parent album, the iconic ‘Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’ to whopping sales of nearly 20 million worldwide, it stands today as one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Tuck in below to see who joined Lauryn this week in 1998:

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