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A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, 36, was found not guilty. Pretty Flacko was charged with assault with a semiautomatic firearm aka firing a gun at his former friend and A$AP Mob member A$AP Relli.
https://x.com/meghanncuniff/status/1891895289201434700
The jury began deliberating on Tuesday (Feb. 18) morning and reached their verdict by late afternoon. The jury consisted of seven women and five men and their decision was reportedly unanimous.
The prosecution alleged that Rocky fired two shots at Relli during a dispute on a street in Hollywood back in 2021. The trial featured dramatic testimony from Relli (Rocky passed on testifying) and bitter arguing between the prosecution and the defense (each side accused the other of perjury). Rocky’s longtime girlfriend attending the trial and occasionally bringing along their two baby sons added to the audacity of the proceedings.
The dutiful reporting of legal journalist Meghann Cuniff has given outside observers a direct look into the happenings of the trial as they occurred. Below, we’re sharing Cuniff’s YouTube channel that featured the verdict reading.
Social media followed this trial closely and is reacting to the verdict. See what’s happening in the gallery.
This story is developing.
Additional reporting by D.L. Chandler.
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A$AP Rocky is now in the final stages of his court case, with the whole family in tow for emotional support. Rihanna, his partner, made her first appearance in court with their two kids, 2-year-old RZA and 1-year-old Riot, just as the prosecutor was laying out the case against the rapper. The prosecution’s argument is simple: Rocky fired at his former friend, A$AP Relli, on a Hollywood street in 2021, and he should be guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
However Rocky’s defense is pushing back. A$AP Twelvyy, a member of Rocky’s crew, testified that Relli was actually the one starting trouble. He claims the Harlem rapper fired the shots not to harm Relli, but to stop him from attacking another member of their crew. So, it’s not as clear as the prosecution wants to make it seem.
Rihanna’s presence in the courtroom, along with their kids, added a serious emotional layer to the proceedings, especially with the stakes so high for Rocky. The prosecution’s focus is on Relli’s testimony, but with Rocky’s defense painting a different picture, the situation is still up in the air. It’s clear that this case isn’t just about the law—it’s personal for Rocky, and with his family in the room, it’s a heavy moment.
More news to come as the story develops.
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If we’ve learned anything about 50 Cent over his illustrious career it’s that the man has no qualms about sharing his opinion on everything Hip-Hop related, so when A$AP Relli took the stand against A$AP Rocky in the long-awaited shooting trial of the rapper, y’all should’ve known 50 was going to throw his two cents in on the matter.
On Tuesday (Jan. 28), Relli got on the witness stand and told his side of the story in which he described how A$AP Rocky allegedly shot him during an argument in 2021. While on the stand Relli said Rocky pulled a gun on him and pointed it towards his body saying he was “looking for a spot to shoot.” Telling the court that he told Rocky “If you brought a gun, use it then,” Relli says that had it not been for a man named Elijah standing in between both of the men he didn’t know what would’ve happened.
According to A$AP Relli, Rocky did ultimately use the gun, which led to Relli getting a bullet graze on his hand.
Not one to bite his tongue, 50 Cent shared a clip of Relli’s testimony on his Instagram page and added a caption that read, “Man I hope Rockie alright this fool just want some money,💰 we seen this movie before 🎥it’s a re run, sucker ass 🥷🏾 smh @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi.”
You gotta love how that man will promote his alcohol brand while trolling other people.
Obviously not a fan of Relli dropping dime on Rocky, 50 is publicly backing Pretty Flacko as he fights this case in hopes of clearing his name and moving on with his life.
While Rocky had the chance to do so last week when he was offered a plea deal in the case, the “Riot” rapper rejected the deal and decided to take his chances in a court of law, which could prove to be costly if Relli is able to convince a jury that Rocky pulled the trigger.
During his testimony, Relli went on to say that his relationship with Rocky was broken at the time of the incident and that the meeting between the two was meant to be a settling of differences before things went left once they came face-to-face. For his part, A$AP Rocky is claiming that what he used to scare Relli was a prop gun that shot blanks, but has also stated that the gun has since been discarded.
We’re not sure how this is going to end for A$AP Rocky, but if he’s convicted of the allegation he faces up to 24 years in prison. If he rejected a plea deal in this matter he must be hella confident in his chances.
Check out A$AP Relli’s testimony below and let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section.
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A$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$AP Rocky is facing two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faces a maximum of 24 years behind bars if the trial leads to a conviction. Rocky has previously rejected a plea deal.
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A$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.
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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$AP Rocky would testify if need be. “He’s confident and he’s ready to go. He believes in justice, and he believes this is going to work out for him.”
You can see footage from the latest hearing below.
Clams Casino doesn’t believe in the age-old adage of having to finish what you start — at least in a single recording session. Born Michael Volpe (no relation to the New York Yankees shortstop and fellow New Jersey native Anthony Volpe), he rose to prominence serving as the sonic architect behind a majority of A$AP Rocky’s seminal 2011 Live. Love. A$AP mixtape, which ushered in a new era of NYC rap and kicked off the A$AP Mob frontman’s Harlem Renaissance.
But nearly 15 years later, Volpe’s atmospheric beats has continue to leave an impact on the next generation of artists. Being a fan of his work with Rocky, Clams Casino was already on The Kid LAROI’s radar when a mutual collaborator, Billy Walsh, connected the producer to the Australian musician when he was just 17 years old. Though nothing came of the initial studio session link-up, a year-and-a-half later, Clams Casino cooked up another intoxicating beat that he felt matched the vibe LAROI was looking for, and he turned out to be right.
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“I hadn’t spoken to LAROI in a long time and I just had a feeling,” he tells Billboard. “I sent him that one and he immediately responded that he loved it and went right in, recorded it on his own and sent it back in like a day.
“He used the MP3 I sent him as-is,” he continues. What came out was pretty much the original demo, which is cool about.” That result is the euphoric “Nights Like This,” which ended up landing on The Kid LAROI‘s debut album, The First Time, last November. And while it didn’t take off immediately, the track would slow-burn to success with the help of TikTok and break through in July on the Billboard Hot 100, where it has remained for the summer and currently sits at No. 67 in its ninth week on the chart.
The 37-year-old producer and LAROI then continued their magic with “Nights Like This Pt 2,” a heart-racing second installment that on The First Time‘s deluxe edition, released in August.
Below, Clams Casino breaks down all things surrounding “Nights Like This,” what stood out to him about The Kid LAROI and working with A$AP Rocky throughout his career.
How did “Nights Like This” come together? How did you originally get onto The Kid LAROI’s radar?
Clams Casino: It was a few years in the making. LAROI first reached out to me online when he was like 17. He was in the studio working with a mutual collaborator, Billy Walsh — I think he played him some of my stuff, and they were brainstorming and brought me out to [Los Angeles]. LAROI knew a lot of the music that I had done. Later on, he told me he was a big fan of the [A$AP] Rocky stuff. I went out to L.A. and we met up in the studio and we talked and played some stuff, but nothing really came out of that first time we met up. I kept it in the back of my mind.
I think it was a year-and-a-half later, and I was at my own studio in New York making beats. That [beat] came up, and I just thought this was the one to send to him. This is kind of what they were talking about what they wanted [during the initial session] and the sound they were referencing. I just sent that one beat. He was excited about it. I had a feeling this was the one and it worked out. Once it happened, it was quick, but the roots were a long time in the making.
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Do you remember actually cooking up that specific beat before getting it into his hands?
I had the melodic stuff sitting around a little bit. I knew it was a special one. I didn’t really know what to do with it. I had half of the beat kind of put away. I was like, “When the time is right, I’ll come back to it.” I don’t do full things in one sitting. A lot of stuff, I’ll come back to it months or years later. I messed around trying to do a different arrangement, and I think he was just stuck on the original demo. There was something about it; he kept going back to that. He was right about it. I tried some other things out, but he just wanted that original version, which is cool looking back on it.
What stands out about his artistry?
What’s exciting for me when I hear his music is that he has a very unique sense of melody — his delivery and his vocals. There’s something melodically that just feels like he’s delivering in the tones of his voice [with] a genuine feeling and it connects with his music because of that.
“Nights Like This” was teased back in 2022 and released in November. What do you think about its slow burn onto the charts?
It spread around very organically and I think that’s the best way it could happen. There was like zero push from the label at the beginning — they thought, like, “This is a little interlude or something.” I don’t think anyone took it seriously. From the beginning, I knew it was a really special thing and he did too. He was really excited about it. We had the freedom to do exactly what me and him wanted to do. People really connected with that.
Was there a moment you realized the record was taking off, and saw the fan reaction really moving?
I started seeing headlines, and all of a sudden, it was getting jumps in streams. I started seeing things online with people saying it was going crazy on TikTok. It just slowly started building. That’s how it really happened. I’m glad everyone’s hearing it now and they got around to it because that’s how I felt about it when it came out. I was happy and really excited and proud of that. Even just for it to come out in the first place I was happy, but I’m glad it got to that point. I always knew it was special. I’m glad it really connected with everybody else.
How did this lead into “Nights Like This Pt 2”?
The beginning of that idea came from something I made for myself. An instrumental solo project — that was the first thing when I was starting on my own new stuff. When I was listening back, I was going to save it for myself, and I was like, “Something about it feels like this should be the part two.” This was in March or earlier this year. So, a few months after the first was released. I sent LAROI not the full beat or anything, but melody stuff and it was a start.
He loved it, and he immediately started teasing it online. Ten minutes after I sent it to him, he was on Twitter saying, “Part two coming!” I was laughing about that — he was real excited about it. There was a little bit of back-and-forth after that. Him and [co-producer] Dopamine recorded it and did some other production and sent it back to me. We sent it back a few times. Dopamine did a lot of work on it and we went back a few times. We got it finished up.
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When did The First Time track “Strangers (Interlude)” come into play?
I actually didn’t know about that. I had no idea about that until the album came out. They had done that on their own. I felt like it set up [“Nights Like This”] really nicely. I love how it sounds sequenced on the album. It’s a clip from “Nights Like This” — just the intro to it and filtered out a little and a little skit on it.
Is there more to come from you guys?
Yeah, it feels like we’re just starting to figure it out. We’re both really excited. I’m like such a fan of his music and I’m happy that I’m able to bring what I bring to it. It just makes sense and it’s a beautiful thing. I’m always working on more that I want to send to him and we got some other stuff that we’re going to keep going [at] hopefully.
Outside of those collabs, what else are you working on?
I’ve been working on different stuff, like getting into scoring things. I worked on some original music for an independent movie that premiered at Cannes a few months ago. [It’s called] It Doesn’t Matter and the director is Josh Mond. I’ll definitely be doing more of that. In the meantime, I really have been having fun getting in with a lot of young producers and young people I’m inspired by. A lot of them have been inspired by me since they were younger, and now they’re coming up doing their own thing. It’s really crazy. I just been having fun getting in with all these new guys and seeing what happens. Producers [like] Evilgiane, who did the Earl Sweatshirt song recently. [I] been working with other guys like Ok. I did some stuff on the JT album with Aire Atlantica. I’m always experimenting and having fun doing stuff I haven’t done before. That’s what keeps me going.
Did you work on A$AP Rocky’s upcoming album?
We did work [on Don’t Be Dumb]. I don’t know what’s going to be used or not. It always seems up in the air until the last minute. We definitely had some things in the works. I don’t know what’s going to be released or not.
Can you speak to Rocky’s influence and his enduring legacy as a 2010s rap titan?
I’m just happy to be part of his story and the ride of his career. Seeing it from the beginning when we first met to where he’s at it now, it’s an amazing story. Remembering where it started and seeing where he’s at now, it’s awesome. I’m just happy to be able to see some of that and some of the behind-the-scenes things.
What do you think makes him special as an artist?
Overall, he has a clear sense of vision for everything. All aspects of it. The music, visuals and everything else. He’s always developing and sharpening that. I don’t really know what it is, but he’s got it.
Do you have a favorite collaboration over the years?
All of the first mixtape stuff [Live. Love. A$AP] is super important to me. That whole time, we weren’t really working in the studio. I was sending stuff, but then I’d come meet up with him every couple weeks and he’d play me what he did, but he was recording it [on his own]. The first song we officially did together was “Wassup.” Then we did “Bass” and “Palace” and all that stuff. It was happening one at a time over the spring and the summer leading up to the mixtape. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew something good was happening. Those songs are really special. There was an energy there that something was happening. For me, it was exciting and I didn’t know what was going to happen, and we just kept following it.
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For me, I think I gotta go “LVL.”
That was a little bit after the mixtape. That’s another special one doubling down on the sound that we started. That’s when it went from this internet mixtape thing to a major label and we were doubling down on the sound like, “This is what we’re doing.” That’s one of my favorites too.
A version of this story appears in the Aug. 24, 2024, issue of Billboard.
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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$AP Rocky’s newest video “HIGHJACK” below.
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A few weeks ago A$AP Rocky made waves when he seemed to have took some subliminal shots at Drake on his latest cut “HIGHJACK” and though the buzz has since died down, maybe a new video for the cut can get heads talking again.
Dropping off some new black-and-white visuals to “HIGHJACK,” A$AP Rocky gets his dapper don on as he styles in various spiffy suits as shadows play the walls in the background which show some thick women twerking to the beat and Rocky ducking Dracula’s hands?! Some pretty creep hand shadows, b.
Back in Detroit Big Sean goes the black-and-white route too and in his clip for “Yes,” Sean and his crew get turnt up in a warehouse where they smash TV’s, stomp the ground and lace the walls with cans of paint. Interestingly enough no one was smoking or drinking during this ruckus. Impressive. Just sayin.’
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Flee Lord, Tina, and more.
A$AP ROCKY – “HIGHJACK”
BIG SEAN – “YES”
FLEE LORD – “SNAKES IN DISGUISE”
TINA – “LOVER MAN”
ORION SUN – “SWEET”
NAPPY ROOTS FT. BENJI – “HOME FRIED”
JASONMARTIN & DJ QUIK – “FRESH WHITE T”
NIA SMITH & POPCAAN – “PERSONAL”
AUDREY NUNA – “SUCKIN UP”
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Rihanna put the father of her children and son in front of the camera to help her push her latest underwear campaign.
You could hear the collective aww throughout social media after Savage X Fenty, Rihanna’s popular lingerie brand, unveiled its new Classics campaign starring her boyfriend, Hip-Hop star and fashion killa ASAP Rocky, and her son RZA.
In the photo, the couple’s now 2-year-old firstborn child sits on the rapper’s shoulders, wearing black tank tops and matching boxer briefs.
We love to see Rocky in his dad element.
The power couple became first-time parents in May 2022 and welcomed their second child, Riot Rose, in August 2023.
While the Navy, Rihanna’s incredibly loyal fanbase, is clamoring for a new album from the Bajan mogul, she is taking her sweet time to pump it out while admitting she and Rocky are not done pumping out kids.
Per Billboard:
Earlier this month, for a cover story with Interview magazine, RiRi opened up about the possibility of expanding her family even more. “As many as God wants me to have,” the nine-time Grammy winner told her former stylist Mel Ottenberg in their all-encompassing chat regarding having more children down the line. “I don’t know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl. But of course, if it’s another boy, it’s another boy.”
We don’t blame Rihanna for dragging her feet regarding the music. She’s clearly enjoying being a mother, slinging panties, men’s underwear, makeup, and now hair care products with Fenty Hair.
Rihanna, take your time and continue living your best life with ASAP Rocky and your beautiful children.
The Navy and other fans are not going anywhere.