As streams garnered by Drake‘s ‘VIEWS‘ cast a shadow over the impressive units that it is selling, the rapper has signed up to rock the iHeart Radio Festival alongside the ‘Overprotected’ Britney Spears.

Full story below…

(more…)

After spending the latter half of the noughties garnering more misses than hits on the Billboard Hot 100, Jennifer Lopez‘s musical career hit a homerun in the early ’10s courtesy of the RedOne-produced ‘On the Floor.’  With the assistance of rapper PitBull, Lopez’s return to dominance and prominence spelled of much promise until fans were greeted with a number of rehashes of the J.Lo/Pitbull formula over the four years that followed.

The absence of ‘On the Floor’s catchiness and magical flair proved an impotent punch for its successors as all of them failed to come anywhere near its chart performance.  But, while she was hitting a number of sour notes on the Hot 100, Jenny’s star was proving itself hotter than ever thanks to ‘American Idol,’ a hit scripted series ‘Shades of Blue,’ and a hotly-selling Vegas residency.

The reignition of overall public interest in “Jennifer Lopez: the star” may have acted as the catalyst for the triple threat diva to try her hand yet again at her ailing music career.  Tapping an unused number from hitmaking newcomer Meghan Trainor and producer extraordinaire Dr. Luke, the trio birthed ‘Ain’t Your Mama’:  the first official single from Jenny’s 9th album…

(more…)

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 try (and fail) at doing our best hip roll to Shakira‘s hit single ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ featuring Wyclef Jean.  Though this week in 2006 brought with it the song’s dethronement from the top of the Hot 100 by the year’s ‘American Idol’ winner Taylor Hicks, by the time he hopped over ‘Hips’ to occupy the tally’s perch, the damage had long been done by the Colombian beauty.

Topping the charts in over 50 countries worldwide during its prime, ‘Hips’ lent Shakira her first and only #1 single (to date) on the Billboard Hot 100.  Going on to sell nearly 20 million copies, the song was not only the most successful release of 2006, but still reigns as one of the best-selling tunes of all time – thanks in no small part to a rocking video that featured the return of hip-rolling choreography that brought Shaki to U.S. fame a few years prior (see: ‘Whenever, Wherever’).

Tuck in below to see if any of your faves from today can be spotted on the Hot 100’s lineup this week 10 years ago:

(more…)

As one of the world’s most monumental mega-stars, Beyonce has mastered the art of not just making music – but making “moments.”

One of her most profound was unleashed this February in the form of ‘Formation.’

An unapologetic celebration of her Blackness (and that of millions the world over), the cut and its accompanying video drew both praise and critique. More than anything, it ignited much needed conversation – which perhaps is where it’s greatest success lay. [The song would go on to enjoy a #10 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 months later when released with the singer’s sixth album ‘Lemonade’].

That Grape Juice caught up with one of the song’s primary writers – Swae Lee from duo Rae Sremmurd – at the 2016 BET Awards and quizzed him on what it was like working with the Queen Bey on the track. 

See what he had to say above and peep the award-winning video for ‘Formation’ below…

Rae Sremmurd’s new single ‘Do Yoga‘ is out now; as is their album ‘Sremm Life 2′ arrives August 12th.

Your thoughts?

Welcome to The Stream Scene, the TGJ original feature carved out to celebrate achievements made by today’s brightest stars on a streaming front.

Today, we applaud gains made by Beyonce and R&B newcomer Jacquees.

Find out why below…

(more…)

Alicia Keys is hard at work pushing new single ‘In Common’ on European shores.

The anthemic cut is the lead release from the 15-time Grammy winner’s eighth studio album, which is due late summer.

British show ‘Graham Norton’ was the latest stage to welcome the songbird to perform the track.

Watch Ms. Keys hit all the right notes after the jump…

(more…)

(Photo Credit:  Getty Images)

Not even an all-star lineup featuring the likes of Queen of Pop Madonna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Rihanna were enough to save the 2016 Billboard Music Awards from tanking.

Its highly anticipated performers list and tribute to late pop icon Prince drummed up what was once perceived as ample buzz, final ratings report indicate the exact opposite.

Giving the annual awards showing its lowest viewership in 4 years, tuck in below to find out just how many people tuned in to the Ludacris & Ciara-hosted affair:

(more…)

Justin Timberlake has done it.

Ahead of the premiere of its video, the singer’s latest single ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ has rocketed straight to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Full story on the incredible feat below…

(more…)

Following in the footsteps of Toni Morrison, John Legend and the creators of WGN’s ‘Underground’ take a bold, brave and nuanced look into the human implications of African-American chattel slavery.

Now, supported by a stirring performance by ‘Empire‘s Jussie Smollet, the show’s remarkable players have learned that its first season  moved mountains on a number of fronts…long before its finale.

Good news before it returns for a second season below…

(more…)

The thirst for Beyonce‘s new album ‘Lemonade’ has been real. So much so that upon the diva’s lavish unleashing of the LP, fans have been lining up in their thousands for a taste. None more so than in the US, where Queen Bey is set to debut on tomorrow’s Billboard 200 with huge numbers.

With the units counted, find out what the 35-year-old has sold below…

(more…)

With just a few hours remaining until Drake unleashes new album exclusively on Apple Music, it has dramatically been revealed the eagerly anticipated set has been re-titled.

Yes.

The long-touted ‘Views From The 6’ is no more.

Find out what Drizzy has christened the LP after the jump…

(more…)

Brandy may have premiered a new video today in the form of ‘Beggin’ and Pleadin,” however question marks remain over the status of its parent album.

Indeed, since news hit of the singer’s legal tussle with label head Breyon Presscott, it appears no certainties exist pertaining to the feasibility of an LP. For legal documents filed by the diva claim she is unlawfully being lured into signing a deal that principally serves to profit Presscott – head of Chameleon Entertainment – and leave her worse for wear.

Seizing the moment, Presscott’s team have issued a lengthy statement countering the claims and presenting a detailed timeline of events.

Read below…

(more…)