It’s been nearly a year since JYP Entertainment (TWICE, ITZY, Stray Kids), Republic Records and Federal Films announced that its developing a first-of-its-kind K-pop competition series, and now A2K finally has a premiere date.

The show will be available for streaming on July 13 via JYP Entertainment’s official YouTube channel at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

A2K, which stands for America 2 Korea, will chronicle the creation of the very first American girl group trained through the K-pop system. JYP Entertainment and Republic Records hosted in-person auditions for American and Canadian hopefuls ages 12 through 16 in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas. The applicants faced multiple stages, showcasing their aptitude in four major traits of a K-pop star — dancing, singing, star quality, and character — before finally getting the opportunity to perform in front of J.Y. Park, a Korean artist who is also the founder and chairman of JYP Entertainment. Those who pass then make it to the next stage, a boot camp in Los Angeles.

“Welcome to the City of Angels, where stars are born,” Park is heard saying in the minute-and-a-half trailer released on Thursday (June 29), which gives a glimpse into the competitive audition process. “How focused are you? How smart are you? How fast can you adjust, learn and improve? It’s like the best of what art can do.”

The all-girl supergroup comprised through A2K will partner with both JYP Entertainment and Republic Records for all future music releases. Alongside Park, A2K was spearheaded by Monte Lipman, founder and CEO of Republic.

Watch the trailer before the July 13 release date below.

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Hennessy is releasing a limited-edition VS bottle designed in collaboration with Nas to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the company announced Tuesday (June 27).

“It means a lot to me to celebrate this legendary moment in hip-hop history with Hennessy, a brand that has supported me for over 10 years,” Nas said in a statement. “Hennessy is part of our culture and continues to inspire generations of Hip Hop fans, so I’m really proud to share our new limited-edition bottle with the world.”

“Hennessy has been an undeniable mainstay in hip-hop, intricately woven into the fabric of the genre and its global influence for decade,” added Jasmin Allen, senior vice president, Hennessy USA. “We’re proud to honor hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with a pioneer of the art and culture — hip-hop icon, Nas — as we celebrate the debut of our collaborative limited-edition bottle.”

On July 20, Nas and Hennessy will unveil the limited-edition bottle with a one-of-a-kind “HenNASsy” logo during an exclusive event showcasing “the breadth and depth of hip-hop culture,” according to a news release.  

The Queens rap legend, who is a brand ambassador for Hennessy, also narrated a film in partnership with photographer and Bronx native, Renell Medrano. The film serves as a “love letter” to hip-hop from Nas and will feature the new bottle.

As part of the celebration, Hennessy will launch Hennessy AI.bum Covers, an AI-led photo experience that will transform selfies into personalized album covers based on iconic eras in hip-hop and a social-media campaign challenging fans to “Rep Yours”  by sharing what hip-hop means to them.

The cognac brand has debuted several limited releases in the past, including Hennessy V.S.O.P. Limited Edition by Maluma ($69.99), the Hennessy V.S. NBA Collector’s Edition Gift Box and Bottle ($50.99) and Hennessy X.O. Kim Jones Limited-Edition Bottle ($329.99).

See below to purchase the limited-edition Hennessy bottle celebrating five decades of hip-hop.

Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian shared a new pregnancy photo shoot on Wednesday (June 28), posting six new pics of Kardashian’s baby bump in solo and couple shots.

Kardashian wears a baby-blue lycra turtleneck dress-and-pants combo in the photos, with the skintight silhouette showing off her growing belly. The photos were taken in front of a swimming pool, with half the pics featuring the Blink-182 drummer in a beanie and white tank top holding on to his pregnant wife.

The couple announced their baby news earlier this month when Kardashian held up a “Travis I’m Pregnant” poster in the crowd at Blink-182’s concert at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium. The sign was a reference to Blink’s “All the Small Things” music video, in which a random fan holds up the same poster in the crowd. On Saturday, they revealed the baby’s sex in an Instagram video, with Barker offering up a drumroll before a stream of blue confetti and streamers shoots into the air, confirming that the pair is having a baby boy.

It sounds like that’s not all the couple knows about their future baby either. Along with a winking emoji, Barker commented on the new baby bump photos: “I already know his name.” Kardashian is wearing the same baby-blue outfit in the gender-reveal video as she is in the new photo shoot.

This will be the first baby for Kardashian and Barker, who confirmed they were married on May 16, 2022, before hosting a lavish wedding in Italy on May 22, 2022. Their wedding was documented for the Hulu series Til Death Do Us Part: Kourtney & Travis.

Both have children from previous relationships: Kardashian has son Mason, 13, daughter Penelope, 10, and son Reign, 8, with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, while Barker has son Landon, 19, daughter Alabama, 17, and stepdaughter Atiana, 24, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler.

See the new photos here.

Primary Wave has purchased a stake in the publishing catalog of Kool & The Gang founding band member and drummer George Brown, the company announced Wednesday (June 28). The sale also includes a stake in the Grammy winner’s writer’s share of his music publishing and the writer’s share of his public performance income.

The deal — which includes classics like “Ladies Night,” “Celebration,” “Get Down on It,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and more — is in the multi-million dollar range, according to Primary Wave.

In addition to Brown, Kool & The Gang is comprised of Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, Woodrow “Woody” Sparrow and Ricky West. The Jersey City troupe first got its start on indie label De-Lite Records, which released the band’s debut album, Kool and the Gang, in 1969. The group broke through in 1973 with its fourth album, Wild and Peaceful, which contained hits like “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging.” Pulling from funk, soul, R&B, disco and jazz influences, Kool & The Gang’s work also played a defining role in the soundtracks for Rocky (1976) and Saturday Night Fever (1977).

For its impressive body of work, Kool & the Gang has received two Grammy awards, seven American Music Awards and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. The group also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while Brown — along with bandmates Taylor and Robert and Ronald Bell — was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

“I am very pleased to call Primary Wave my music partner and to join with dozens of other iconic artists and creatives in an incredible business family,” said Brown of the deal. “I look forward to collaborating with Larry Mestel and the entire Primary Wave team to further enhance my catalog and the Kool & The Gang brand.”

Kendall A. Minter, Brown’s legal counsel, added, “As counsel to George Brown and Astana Music, it was my pleasure to initiate, negotiate and close this deal with Primary Wave. The alignment of a globally iconic artist and creative talent with an iconic, global independent music publisher and brand enhancer is a win-win for the entire music community and fans.”

“Kool and the Gang’s influence on generations of musicians and fans around the globe cannot be denied,” said Primary Wave senior vp of business and legal affairs Samantha Rhulen. “A few of us from Primary Wave were excited to have been in the audience when they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, and we are so thrilled to now be partnering with George Brown in 2023.”

From TikTok to the America’s Got Talent stage.

The Sharpe Family Singers — a New Jersey vocal group made up of mom and dad Ron and Barbra and their four kids, Samantha, Logan and twins Connor and Aidan — auditioned for AGT on Tuesday night, urging their 8.5 million TikTok followers and 1.6 million YouTube subscribers to tune in for their tryout.

They belted out the Lin-Manuel Miranda-written Moana ballad “How Far I’ll Go,” giving each family member a solo spotlight to shine throughout the theatrical performance.

Ahead of the performance, Ron and Barbra explained that they had been in a production on that very theater’s stage before they were married and even shared their first kiss in the show. “From production to reproduction!” judge Howie Mandel joked waving to the couple’s four children.

Before their AGT audition, the family appeared on another reality singing competition: Now-27-year-old daughter Samantha Sharpe tried out for American Idol back in 2021, with her whole family by her side. They even sang “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2 as a family before Samantha scored a golden ticket on her own for hitting the power notes on Sia’s “Titanium.”

Now the family entertains millions with their musical videos — and hope to entertain millions more through America’s Got Talent, which airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Watch their AGT audition below: