State Champ Radio A$AP Rocky
Page: 2
HipHopWired Featured Video
A$AP Relli took the stand on Tuesday (Jan. 28) during former friend A$AP Rocky’s shooting trial, revealing more details about the 2021 incident. During his time on the stand, A$AP Relli claims he allegedly demanded that A$AP Rocky use the gun at the center of the matter in a show of bravado although Relli reportedly testified he never saw a firearm on Rocky’s person before their confrontation.
TMZ reports that A$AP Relli, real name Terell Ephron, took the stand and shared his side of the story regarding the alleged incident. Relli and Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, were childhood friends in New York and came up together as Rocky rose the ranks in music and fashion as part of the A$AP Mob collective. Relli says the issues began when a day before the November 6, 2021 shooting, he overheard a call between Rocky and A$AP Bari that was disparaging toward him and the longtime friendship fizzled from there.
The next day, Reli and Rocky planned to meet in Hollywood and the testimony from Relli claims that Rocky arrived with two other individuals with the idea of hashing out their differences in person. During the testimony, Relli claims he told Rocky, “You better use that sh*t, what the f*ck you got a gun for?” and added, “I was willing to die for my respect. If this is what you want to do, I still have my dignity.”
Relli claims he was grazed on the knuckle after Rocky fired at him. Rocky’s attorney says that the gun in the matter was a stage prop and therefore could not have fired a bullet nor were there casings found.
Rihanna, the mother of Rocky’s children, was in the gallery during the testimony in a show of support. Also taking the stand was an LAPD officer Tommy Zizzo, the son of Erika Jayne who starred in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills franchise.
A$AP Rocky is facing two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faces a maximum of 24 years behind bars if the trial leads to a conviction. Rocky has previously rejected a plea deal.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Roy Rochlin / Getty
A$AP Rocky has elected to reject a plea deal in his ongoing assault case in Los Angeles which would have seen him serve 180 days behind bars for accepting one of the felony counts. Now, a jury selection process is underway and A$AP Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison.
The Associated Press reports that A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, declined to take the plea deal after initially pleading not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm back in 2022. Rocky, 36, is accused of opening fire on childhood friend Terell “A$AP Relli” Ephron in Hollywood back in 2021.
The terms of the deal were for Rocky to plead guilty to one of the aforementioned felony counts, with Los Angeles County prosecutors suggesting a seven-year suspended sentence, three-year probation, and a six-month jail sentence.
According to Rocky’s attorney, the defense will call on witnesses to take the stand in the trial and deliver testimony that the gun Rocky fired was a starter pistol used as a security measure and not a full-on semiautomatic weapon as the charges state.
Rocky is the husband of singer and fashion powerhouse Rihanna and the pair are parents to two toddler boys. Rocky was also preparing the release of his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, via his ASAP Worldwide imprint alongside Polo Grounds/RCA.
The courts surveyed over 100 potential jurors in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom and as of Wednesday (Jan. 22), the full measure of 12 jurors have not been selected. Opening statements will be televised once the trial officially begins.
If found guilty, A$AP Rocky could face up to 24 years behind bars.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Ollie Millington / Getty
A$AP Rocky has rejected a plea deal in his gun assault case against A$AP Relli, and his lawyer is confident he will be acquitted.
As per Newsweek, A$AP Rocky’s trial is set to get underway next week. While he has claimed innocence since news broke about the alleged shooting that struck former A$AP Mob member and collaborator A$AP Relli, Daily Mail reports that he was offered a plea deal Wednesday ( Jan. 15). According to his lawyer Joe Tacopina A$AP Rocky has “no interested” in a settlement. “Our client has indicated he’s willing to take anything but obviously I will listen to any offer and I have an obligation and duty to relay to my client,” Tacopina told the presiding judge during the recent hearing.
After the conference concluded Joe Tacopina spoke to reporters outside of the court. “There’s a reason that 10 police officers searched and didn’t find shell casings there,” the legal professional explained. “[It’s] not because they were blind or drunk or because they didn’t want to find it. It’s because they did a thorough job. Tacopina also confirmed that A$AP Rocky would testify if need be. “He’s confident and he’s ready to go. He believes in justice, and he believes this is going to work out for him.”
You can see footage from the latest hearing below.
Having recently wrapped up a successful year with the release of his critically-acclaimed Chromakopia album in late October, Tyler, The Creator now has more praise coming his way, this time from proto-punk veteran Iggy Pop.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
77-year-old Pop took the time to heap praise upon Tyler on his Iggy Confidential radio show for BBC Radio 6 Music. In his raspy voice, Pop recalled how he and Tyler had previously worked together on an ad campaign for Gucci alongside A$AP Rocky.
“I’ve always liked Tyler,” Pop began. “I did a day’s work with him once, and he would do what it takes to get attention. He’s also a genuine all-around song, dance, writer talent — a genuine old-school talent with a new-school approach.”
Trending on Billboard
The pair’s previous collaboration came about in February 2020, with Gucci seeing them team up with A$AP Rocky to promote their menswear collection which served as an ode to the archetypical rockstar.
“Male elegance can be unpredictable and strange,” Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele told Forbes of the campaign’s idea. “The result is a group campaign with three men who I believe had fun too.
“There is always this image of eccentricity, because they are in fact eccentric themselves,” he continued. “A certain type of fun is also portrayed and the idea of how one’s obsession with appearances can create a kind of common ground that can become a sort of brotherhood. It was beautiful to see these three men together, seemingly different but very similar.”
Pop’s description of Tyler – “a genuine old-school talent with a new-school approach” – seems to be apt, with the younger musician recently seeing some of his biggest successes to date with the release of the soul, jazz, and hip-hop blending Chromakopia.
Tyler’s eighth album, it became his third consecutive record to top the Billboard 200, while opening track “St. Chroma” became his first to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart.
Previously, his top-performing songs on Streaming Songs, which began in 2013, had been “Earfquake” and “Wusyaname” (the latter featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla $ign), both of which peaked at No. 3 in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Notably, this latest success was accompanied by the single “Noid” being found in the No. 2 position.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
A$AP Rocky will indeed be taking his main character energy to Hollywood. Spike Lee has confirmed he will have the main role in his new upcoming film.
As reported by Hype Beast the legendary movie marker recently conducted an interview with Deadline. During the Q&A the Brooklyn, NY native discussed reuniting with his longtime collaborator Denzel Washington on his forthcoming film Highest 2 Lowest. The project is inspired by the 1963 crime thriller High and Low. “This is not a remake, this is a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s great film” Spike says. The original follows a high profile executive who is extorted after his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for payment.
Related Stories
“In Kurosawa’s film, Toshiro Mifune is a shoemaker,” said Lee. “In our film Denzel Washington is a music mogul with his own label and his reputation as the best ears in the business. So, this is the fifth film with the dynamic duo.” The two have worked on several iconic movies including Malcolm X, Inside Man, He Got Game and Mo’ Better Blues. When asked for further details on the plot Spike Lee didn’t elaborate further but did share that A$AP Rocky has the “the main role” in the film. Fellow rapper Ice Spice also has a part in Highest To Lowest.
You can see Spike Lee discuss the project below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
A$AP Rocky will have to fight for his freedom one more time. He is set to stand trail next year for allegedly shooting at A$AP Relli.
As reported by The Associated Press, the Harlem native will have to clear his name in a court of law. This week, it was confirmed his trial for allegedly shooting at his former collaborator and group member will start in 2025. A judge slotted Jan. 21 as to when the jury selection will commence. The proceedings were originally scheduled to start next month, but A$AP Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina had requested it be postponed so the “Praise The Lord” rapper can perform at the Rolling Loud festival in Thailand. Judge Mark S. Arnold has also confirmed that the proceedings will be recorded by video cameras saying, “I believe that the public deserves to see what goes on in the courtroom.”
On Nov. 6, 2021 it is alleged that A$AP Rocky fired shots at Terell Ephron, aka A$AP Relli, in Hollywood, Calif. According to TMZ, Relli took the stand during a preliminary hearing regarding the alleged assault. He revealed the two were childhood friends, but their relationship started to strain once A$AP Rocky gained global popularity. He went on to admit that he started resenting the rapper after some broken promises were made to help his family. On the fateful day of Nov. 6, 2021, he says Rocky called him and asked to meet at a Los Angeles hotel. Relli thought the meet-up was a chance for them to put their differences behind them, but instead he says Pretty Flacko pulled up with several men and put a gun to his stomach saying, “I’ll kill you right now.” After separating Relli says several gunshots were fired his way with one of them striking his hand.
A$AP Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm. You can watch surveillance footage from the incident below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Anadolu / Getty
One of the biggest evenings in the fashion industry will highlight Black men’s style. Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams have been tapped as the celebrity co-chairs for the 2025 Met Gala.
As spotted on the New York Times, the theme for the 2025 Met Gala has been formally announced. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” is directly inspired by Monica L. Miller’s, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Originally released in 2009, the book details the history and cultural importance of the Black Dandy. She describes Black Dandyism to Vogue as “a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context. To really push a boundary – especially during the time of enslavement, to really push a boundary on who and what counts as human, even.”
To ensure the theme is properly brought to life the Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour as the co-chairs for the 2025 edition. LeBron James will also serve as an honorary chairman. The exhibit is slated to feature artwork, antique garments and other items that will explore the history of Black Dandy.
The 2025 Met Gala will take place on May 5 followed by the launch of the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibit on May 10.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis / Getty
A$AP Rocky fans will have to wait just a bit longer for the release of Don’t Be Dumb. The rapper has announced it is delayed to later this year.
As spotted on Hypebeast, the “Good for You” rapper recently responded to a post by NPR on X, formerly Twitter, where the publication reported the news. A$AP Rocky confirmed it saying, “LEAKS & SAMPLE CLEARANCES ARE DISRUPTING THE ALBUM. ITS BEEN 6 YEARS & I WANNA MAKE THE BEST ALBUM EVER. IM SORRY FOR THE WAIT.” Recently he spoke to Billboard, in an in depth interview where he revealed that he has been working on this project for the last couple of years. “At this point I’ve been working on music for six years, but they leak my music and I get over it and say, ‘F**k it,’ ” he explained. “They leak a lot of the music and it ruins it. Like my ‘Taylor Swift’ video. I was pissed off about it, so I never released it.”
Later on during the conversation he touches on his involvement in the Rap civil war that occurred earlier this year, specifically his back-and-forth with Drake. “You got to realize, certain ni***s was throwing shots for years. I ain’t in the middle of that sh*t,” he said. “That’s not how I retaliate right now. I got bigger fish to fry than some pu**y boys. It is real beef outside. It is real. Ni***s getting really clipped and blitzed every day. Ni***as sniping ni***s every day. That little kitty sh*t ain’t about nothing.”
You can watch A$AP Rocky’s newest video “HIGHJACK” below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Drake may be done going back and forth with Kendrick Lamar, but it seems like A$AP Rocky isn’t letting the King of the North off the hook that easily for speaking sideways about his queen, Rihanna.
Months after A$AP Rocky took a subliminal shot at Drake on Kid Cudi’s “WOW,” the Harlem rapper is at it again as he throws another indirect dart at the Canadian crooner for his transgressions on his 2023 song, “Fear Of Heights.” In a newly released cut dubbed, “HIJACK,” Rocky seems to continue to rub his relationship with Rihanna in his ops’ face with some bars saying, “These n*ggas want my wife bad, the people want my next track.”
While people may make of that what they want, Hot 97’s DJ Kast One recently attended a listening event for A$AP Rocky’s next album, Don’t Be Dumb, and according to HipHopDX, Pretty Flacko got a little something for Drizzy in the chamber ready to go.
Per HipHopDX:
After attending a listening event for the album, Kast One said on air: “I heard A$AP Rocky definitely addressing a lot of the main topics that are happening out there right now. Let’s just say the list keeps going on strong.”
Host Ebro Darden then asked whether “Rocky is still on Drake’s list,” with the DJ responding: “Oh, he’s gonna be cemented on the list after this.”
Whether Rocky’s shots at Drake are more subliminal bars or direct darts at the embattled Canadian king remains to be seen, but one has to wonder if Drake would even entertain another battle so soon after getting beaten, battered and bruised by the likes of Kung-Fu Kenny.
Check out “HIJACK” below, and let us know if A$AP Rocky vs. Drake is a battle you’d like to see, or if the two men should just let things go and move on with their lives.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Ollie Millington / Getty
A$AP Rocky is taking his talents back to the big screen. He has been confirmed to be in Spike Lee’s upcoming film High And Low.
As spotted on Hypebeast the Harlem, New York, native was recently spotted filming for a new project. Paparazzi captured photographs of Lord Flacko shooting a scene of his character Yung Felon in handcuffs being led by police into what seems to be a police station. Supporting him are crowds of his friends, family and fans holding up signs asking for proper justice to be served. He is wearing a navy blue baseball jersey, baggy fitting jeans and Timberland construction work boots. Earlier this year, it was announced that Ice Spice was also added to the cast.
High And Low is is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller of the same name. The movie stars Denzel Washington and marks his fifth movie with Spike Lee. According to Wikipedia, the original follows a high ranking executive who is presented the opportunity of either accumulating a massive amount of power and wealth or lending his employee money to free his child from kidnappers. High And Low was written by Spike Lee and Alan Fox. Production started back in March and is expected to be released in 2025.
In recent A$AP Rocky news, the “Fashion Killa” MC released his newest capsule collection with PUMA. You can read about it here.
