London/Los Angeles based That Grape Juice is one of the Internet’s premier Urban Pop Culture websites. With daily readership in the high thousands, we are an internationally established source for Urban news, music, entertainment, celebrity interviews, reviews and much more.
We have garnered coverage in Billboard, The Independent, Huffington Post, New York Post, The Voice, as well as on MTV, BET, AOL, and E! News (TV). BBC 1 Xtra recognized That Grape Juice as “the UK’s #1 Urban blog” and one of the most popular on the net worldwide).
In a crowded sea of sites, That Grape Juice has a strong, unique voice; one that has ample volume and one that encourages readers to roar back just as loud. Readers don’t just visit, they interact and which gives us a certain qualitative edge. To know that, in an era where people are bombarded with the same message over and over, our audience isn’t passive. They are active and very much a part of the That Grape Juice experience.
History
The brainchild of Sam A, That Grape Juice officially launched in February 2007.
After becoming well-acquainted with the proliferation of Urban Entertainment websites and blogs, the Londoner (then just 18) decided to create his own at the beginning of 2007. Born out his love for all things ‘Urban’, Sam simply sought to share his thoughts and opinions on the latest happenings in the crazy world of Urban entertainment.
With that in mind, he then embarked on the task of naming the site. Speaking on how he came up with ‘That Grape Juice’, the young entrepreneur said:
“I vividly remember sitting in my university halls during my first year, trying to brainstorm a name. With several hours having passed and many a wack name left on the cutting room floor, I began reminiscing on an A-Levels (college) Media Studies project I had achieved an ‘A’ grade on a few months prior to starting university – a sample Urban magazine called The Grape Vine. A spin on the classic Marvin Gaye song of the same title, my magazine’s grape vine wasn’t to be like the unreliable, gossipy grape vine described in the song. My grape vine was going to be concrete, legit, yet at the same time equally, if not more, entertaining!
So, drawing on aspects of the magazine’s concept as well as today’s blog/internet culture of supplying the ‘juice’, That Grape Juice was born. The rest, as they say, is history!” {RWD Magazine}
About The Team:
That Grape Juice is anchored by a dedicated team of Urban Pop lovers. Read more about them below…
Sam A. (Founder / Editor)
Hailing from North London, England, Sam A is the Creator and Editor of That Grape Juice. Born to Nigerian parents, he is a Sociology & Media Studies (BSc) university graduate and also holds a Masters Degree in Media & Communications (MSc).
Sam’s steering of That Grape Juice to soaring new heights continues to attract the attention of many, including MTV, BET, BBC, MOBO Awards, Powerful Media Group, among others.
Email: sam@thatgrapejuice.net
Twitter: @ThatGrapeJuice
Instagram: @ThatGrapeJuice
Rashad T (Co- Editor)
Ryan Reichard (Co-Editor)
A Midwesterner by birth and at heart, Ryan hails from the Great Lakes State of Michigan.
He obtained his English Degree from the University of Arizona with an emphasis on literature. A journalist and columnist, Ryan previously worked for a prominent country music publication before making the move to That Grape Juice in 2020.
Spearheading TGJ’s pop music coverage with “The Pop Stop,” his passions include showcasing fresh and independent music talent, alongside the biggest names and legends of the genre.
On his journey, he has interviewed such names as JoJo and Melody Thornton. Constantly looking to combine his passion for journalism and music, his work has been shared by the likes of Claude Kelly, Jessie J, and January Jane.
Twitter: @reichardryan
Joe Kams (Co-Editor)
Joe Kams has been working with That Grape Juice since 2011 – most notably on the From The Vault section.
Originating from France, he has studied at renowned Sorbonne-Nouvelle University in Paris where he currently resides.
A journalist, translator, and columnist, his past endeavors saw him working in radio, television, and of course online. It’s allowed him to interview some of entertainment’s biggest names such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Usher, and Samuel L. Jackson to name but a few.
Constantly looking to combine his passion for journalism and traveling, he has covered many events in the UK, the US as well as Brazil.
Twitter: @JoeKams
Instagram: @JoeKams
Patrick Buchanan (Host / West Coast Coordinator)
Past Layouts
Spin-Off TV Site
Credits
Layout / Programming: EDWR
