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Everything you need to know about A$AP Rocky's trial
The rapper risks up to 24 years of prison
January 24th, 2025
The future of A$AP Rocky, the stage name of New York rapper Rakim Athelaston Mayers, could be decided in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, opening statements began in the trial where he stands accused of shooting his former friend and collaborator, A$AP Relli (real name Terell Ephron), during a dispute in November 2021 near a hotel in Hollywood. According to the prosecution, Rocky allegedly pulled out a semiautomatic firearm and fired, slightly injuring Ephron’s knuckles. If found guilty of two counts of assault with a firearm, Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison, as reported by the New York Times. Before the trial began on Tuesday, the prosecution had offered Rocky a plea deal involving six months in jail, a seven-year suspended sentence, and three years of probation. However, the defense opted to reject the deal, choosing instead to proceed in court to prove his innocence. This decision, according to outlets like the Independent, is seen as a risky move, as a full conviction could cost Rocky several years of his life. According to the Associated Press, the trial is expected to last approximately three weeks.
Fans who have followed Rocky since the beginning of his career know how complex this trial is, especially since both he and Relli share a pivotal part of their professional history. Rocky and Relli have known each other since high school, when they were both part of the same creative collective, A$AP (short for “Always Strive and Prosper”). Over the years, Rocky rose to hall-of-fame status in both music and fashion, while his relationship with Relli gradually deteriorated. According to Relli’s version of events, the situation escalated on the night of November 6, 2021, when Rocky allegedly pulled out a semiautomatic firearm and fired a shot that grazed his knuckles. Rocky’s legal team, led by renowned attorney Joe Tacopina, argues that the weapon in question was merely a prop gun incapable of firing real bullets. Additionally, the shell casings that Relli handed over to police were allegedly collected two days after the incident without forensic oversight, raising serious doubts about the authenticity and reliability of the evidence.
Rocky’s attorney has also stated multiple times that Relli might be driven by financial motives and old grudges, rather than a genuine desire for justice. However, achieving justice could be complicated by the composition of the jury. According to the AP, nearly a hundred prospective jurors were summoned to a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday to determine their eligibility for the trial. Rocky’s defense team has expressed concern about the limited representation of Black individuals in the jury pool. Tacopina described the situation as «deeply troubling.» Regardless, one of the defense’s key focuses will be challenging the credibility of Relli’s testimony and the nature of the weapon Rocky allegedly brandished that night.
A$AP Rocky arrives to court for the third day of jury selection in his gun assault trial.
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) January 23, 2025
Rocky was joined by his sister and his mother at the courthouse.
pic.twitter.com/PchRBNPz2f
Among the key concerns surrounding A$AP Rocky’s trial are his numerous upcoming projects, which could be significantly affected by a potential conviction. These include his anticipated role as co-chair of the Met Gala in May. Due to professional commitments, such as headlining the Rolling Loud festival in Thailand, the trial was originally postponed from its planned November 2024 date. Beyond his career, a conviction could have a devastating impact on Rocky’s family life: if found guilty, he risks being absent during the formative years of his two children with Rihanna, an aspect that has drawn significant media attention. While many anticipated Rihanna’s presence in the courtroom, it appears increasingly unlikely. For now, all eyes remain on the progress of the trial.