FUTURE

Opening statements are expected next week in Atlanta in the trial of rapper Young Thug, who’s accused of co-founding a violent criminal street gang and using his music to promote it.

On Friday, Migos rapper Offset released his ambitious second solo album, “Set It Off.”.

Migos rapper Quavo has released his second solo album, “Rocket Power.”.

The 2023 BET Awards are celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with tributes to the genre’s earliest voices, late legends, and new talent during a performance-packed show that consistently felt like a party.

This week’s new entertainment releases include the romantic comedy “Rye Lane” set in modern London, the series “Riverdale” returns for its final season on the CW and PBS celebrates the career of songwriter Joni Mitchell.

A German court has rejected a lawsuit by environmental group Greenpeace that aimed to force automaker Volkswagen to stop selling vehicles with combustion engines by 2030.

Friction has been simmering within the global Anglican Communion for many years over its 42 provinces’ sharp differences on whether to recognize same-sex marriage and ordain LGBTQ clergy.

The smash hit by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber “Stay” topped Apple Music’s global song chart in 2022 as the giant music streamer released its end-of-year lists and provided listeners with data on their own most listened-to tunes.

Lil Baby is normally a man of few words outside of his music, but the Grammy winner has opened up in an interview with The Associated Press.

This week’s new entertainment releases include fresh music from DJ Khaled and his celebrity pals, an HBO documentary about the unending toll Hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans' children and a film starring Sylvester Stallone as an aged superhero.

The cancellation of a major music festival in Atlanta has ignited a new fight over Georgia gun laws.

Katori Hall felt her popular play about Black strip club culture could easily become a television series.

Sean “Diddy” Combs spoke about his own dream like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. while accepting the highest honor at the BET Awards.

Doja Cat could make the BET Awards her world later this month.

This week’s new entertainment releases include new music from Future and Kehlani, a 10-episode Paramount+ series that dramatizes the behind-the-scenes story of the making of “The Godfather,” and the comedy “I Love That for You” starring former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Vanessa Bayer as a woman longing to be a home shopping channel host.

Among the stars, Drake still shined the brightest.

Shaquille O’Neal has returned to the city where he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win three straight championships.

Drake wants no part in competing for a Grammy.

Russell Wilson wants to play another decade and hopes to buy an NFL team after he retires.

Now, one woman is using her 25 years of experience in the tech industry to help break the prison cycle. The problem is nobody shares information that makes it hard for them to work together,” said Louise Wasilewski, CEO of Acivilate. Their Pokket app gives newly released prisoners vital connections. They’re going to need help and resources and support if they’re going to make it,” said Colleen. It’s paid for by the probation or parole department, not by the individual.

Blue dragons showed up on Texas beaches this year, along with a mysterious creature that officials at Padre Island National Seashore couldn’t quite identify. Beautiful but dangerous blue dragons discovered on Texas beach are ‘rare find’Aye there be dragons at the beach - but not the scale-covered kind from fairy tales of old. Nope, these are blue glaucaus, a type of nudibranch or sea slug and officials at Padre Island National Seashore called them a “rare find.”3. Once in a lifetime opportunity lest you drive through the San Antonio ZooFor the first time in history, guests were able to drive through the San Antonio Zoo in a motor vehicle. Man captures heart-stopping video of San Antonio Thunderbirds flyover from top of 500-foot towerWatching the Thunderbirds fly over San Antonio was cool but this guy got to watch it from 500-feet in the air.

NEW YORK – Roddy Ricch is the king of Apple Music: The rapper has the music platform’s most-streamed song and album of the year. The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” was the second most-streamed song of the year, followed by Australian singer Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey,” DaBaby and Ricch’s “Rockstar” and “Life Is Good" by Future and Drake. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this year, was the most Shazamed song of the year (Apple acquired Shazam in 2018). Ranked by time spent viewing lyrics in Apple Music, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s raunchy hit “WAP” tops the list of most-read lyrics of 2020. Other songs in the Top 5 include “Dance Monkey,” YOASOBI’s “Yoru ni Kakeru,” Ricch’s “The Box” and Official HIGE DANdism “Pretender.”

The Puerto Rican superstar is the music platform’s most-streamed artist of the year with 8.3 billion streams globally. With more than 3.3 billion streams, Bad Bunny’s sophomore solo album “YHLQMDLG” tops Spotify’s list of most-streamed albums globally. The album’s single, “Blinding Lights,” is Spotify’s most-streamed song of the year with 1.6 million streams globally. In the U.S., late rapper Juice WRLD was the most-streamed artist on Spotify. His album “Legends Never Die” was the platform’s most-streamed album in the U.S., while Ricch’s “The Box” was the country's most-streamed song.

A new study from studyfinds.org shows more than half of Americans between 18 and 35-years-old have strongly considered a career change due to coronavirus lockdowns. A majority of those wanting to change career paths are from states like California, Arizona, Illinois and Texas. Experts say it’s because the current situation has made people want to pursue a career that is more fulfilling. The study shows 53% of Americans are looking for a full-time job that is completely remote. Experts say one of the most successful career changes has been to a skilled trade because the demand for skilled technicians is high.

Others who may earn nominations include Lewis Capaldi, Summer Walker, Morgan Wallen, Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, Ingrid Andress, Snoh Aalegra, Skip Marley, Mickey Guyton and CNCO. Ricch should also earn nominations for his guest appearance on DaBaby’s international hit “Rock Star,” helping him become the show’s overall top nominee. ________FOLKS LOVE FOLKLORETaylor Swift’s last two albums, “Lover” and “reputation,” didn’t earn nominations for album of the year. The seven-member group’s hit “Dynamite” could snag a nomination for best pop duo/group performance, and their latest album could compete for best global music album. 3 on pop charts, should earn a nomination for best country performance and best country song.

FILE - Singer and fashion designer Rihanna attends the "Rihanna" book launch event in New York on Oct. 11, 2019. It's been four years since Rihanna released an album but the singer is working hard on recording new music. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – It's been four years since Rihanna released an album but the singer is working hard on recording new music. And with the music, I’m using that as my outlet." But I love challenges so, you know, I’m gonna get it done.”______AP Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu contributed to this report.

NEW YORK The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, a night highlighting music and pop culture, kicked off with heartfelt words in memory of Chadwick Boseman, as host Keke Palmer told viewers the event was dedicated to the Black Panther icon. Moments after, the Weeknd brought his Blinding Lights" music video where he is bruised and blooded in a red suit to life. DaBaby, backed by the dance crew Jabbawockeez, also performed, running through several of his hits, including Rock Star." The shifts artists have made because of the pandemic are reflected in two new categories: best music video from home and best quarantine performance. Megan Thee Stallion who topped the charts this year with the Beyonc-assisted Savage" and WAP," her viral song with Cardi B earned multiple nominations, including one for artist of the year.

FILE - The Weeknd performs on day three at Lollapalooza in Grant Park in Chicago on Aug 4, 2018. The Weekend, nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards will perform at the awards show on Aug. 30. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - The Weeknd performs on day three at Lollapalooza in Grant Park in Chicago on Aug 4, 2018. The Weekend, nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards will perform at the awards show on Aug. 30. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK Chart-topping Grammy winners The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch are set to perform at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards this month. MTV announced Tuesday that Colombian singer Maluma and Latin boy band CNCO will also perform at the Aug. 30 event, which was originally to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This years VMAs introduces two new categories reflecting the current pandemic times: best music video from home and best quarantine performance.

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande both scored nine VMA nominations each, including video of the year for their No. Rain on Me is also competing for song of the year, best collaboration, best pop, best cinematography, best visual effects and best choreography. The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Aug. 30 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Gaga and Grande both scored nine nominations each, including video of the year for their No. Rain on Me is also competing for song of the year, best collaboration, best pop, best cinematography, best visual effects and best choreography.

The three-hour show will be jam-packed with heavy hitters currently dominating the pop charts and streaming services, including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, Kane Brown and Chloe x Halle. The three-hour show will be jam-packed with heavy hitters currently dominating the pop charts and streaming services, including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, Kane Brown and Chloe x Halle. Comedian, actress and TV personality Amanda Seales will host the 2020 BET Awards, which will air on CBS for the first time. Drake is the leading nominee: Hes up for six honors, including video of the year and best male hip-hop artist. Ricch and Megan Thee Stallion follow Drake with five nominations each.

Ciara is praying for "unity" and a brighter tomorrow for her young son, Future. The singer took to Instagram on Sunday to share a sweet snapshot of herself and her 6-year-old son, alongside a hopeful message calling for change. Ciara captioned the sweet post, which comes after several days of protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd and a string of similar instances of police brutality and racial injustice. The songstress -- who shares her son with her ex, rapper Future, and is also the mother of 3-year-old daughter Sienna with husband Russel Wilson -- wrote that she is "praying for UNITY! Ciara and Wilson, meanwhile, are currently expecting their second child together.

American rapper and songwriter Future is being accused of avoiding a paternity test and possible child support for a Corpus Christi boy. Future, whose real name is Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn, did not show up to a Corpus Christi court Friday for a lawsuit that claims he fathered a child, KRIS 6 News reported. Nueces County resident Cindy Parker filed the lawsuit in October and is requesting child support. According to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, a woman in Florida also sued the rapper, claiming he is the father of her daughter. Results from a DNA test showed there’s a 99.999996% chance the Texas and Florida children are half-siblings, the newspaper reported.