On Trial
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$AP Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm. You can watch surveillance footage from the incident below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Variety / Getty
Young Thug and his associates will finally have their chance in court. The opening statements for the YSL RICO trial began today.
Raw Story is reporting that the much anticipated federal trial regarding Young Thug allegedly running an organized criminal empire commenced today. According to CNN the prosecutor immediately came out swinging and portrayed YSL as a miniature mafia. “YSL operated as a pact,” said Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love, and claimed Young Thug was “King Slime.” She went on to further detail their supposed operation. “They created a crater in the middle of Fulton County’s Cleveland Avenue community that sucked in the youth, the innocence and even the lives of some of its youngest members,” she added. The prosecutor also says the “Ski” rapper made sure to not have direct dealings with his team when it came to executing his criminal requests saying Thug “knew that he needed to have distance between himself and the crimes members and associates of YSL were committing on behalf of the gang.”
The road to get this case in front of a judge has been a long one. The man born Jeffery Williams and several members of his team were booked by federal authorities on varying charges related to racketeering, theft, distribution of narcotics and criminal conspiracy to name a few. On May 9, 20222 Young Thug and Gunna were among the 28 members of Young Stoner Life who were in a 56-count Georgia RICO. Since then bringing it to trial has been marred by a host of problems including a jury selection that almost took 10 months and a co-defendant who allegedly tried to pass Young Thug a pill of Percocet.
If found guilty Young Thug could face five to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Pool / Getty
A$AP Rocky has a new set of legal problems to deal with. Pretty Flacko will have to stand trial for allegedly shooting at A$AP Relli.
TMZ is reporting that the Harlem, New York native will have to defend his name in a court of law for discharging a firearm at his former A$AP MOB collaborator. On Monday afternoon Pretty Flacko attended a hearing at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles where prosecutors played what seems to be a pretty damning video. The surveillance footage shows what appears to be Rocky holding a black gun during an altercation with Relli back in 2021. Although there is no footage of the “Pesos” MC using the weapon the prosecution went on to play a second video where two gun shots can be heard.
Rocky’s lawyer questioned LAPD Detective Frank Flores and confirmed he no gun was found at the scene of the crime. The legal eagle went on to suggest that the police could not confirm what the rapper was actually holding in his hand and if it. “That gun or whatever it was was not tested, right?” Tacopina asked to which Flores responded “No, it was never recovered”. Tacopina added “you’re not sure if it’s an operable gun or a non-operable gun or whatever?” Flores confirmed saying “Without having it, I can’t tell you whether it’s operable”.
Relli claims A$AP Rocky pointed a gun to his stomach on November 6, 2021 during a tense confrontation but later on actually shot at him which resulted in the bullets grazing his knuckles. As per CBS News a judge has ruled that Rocky will have to stand trial for the crime. A$AP Rocky has pled not guilty to the charges.
You can see the footage of the altercation below.
[embedded content]
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: JOHN LOCHER / Getty
Keefe D’s opportunity to defend his name has been set. His murder trial has been scheduled for next summer.
KTNV Las Vegas is reporting that the Compton, California native will get his day in court. On Tuesday, November 7 Clark County Judge Carli Kearney hosted a hearing and scheduled the murder trial to commence on June 3, 2024. The man born Keith Duane Davis faces charges relating to the murder of Tupac Shakur. On Thursday, November 2 Davis pled not guilty to the crime even though he has conducted several interviews where he admitted to being in the vehicle that fatally shot the “All Eyez On Me” rapper.
During an 2018 interview with BET he gave further details behind that tragic evening. “When we pulled up, I was in the front seat,” Davis said. When asked by the interviewer “Who shot Tupac?” he responded “Going to keep it for the code of the streets,” Davis said. “It just came from the backseat, bro.” He also spoke about the incident in his memoir Compton Street Legend. “Tupac made an erratic move and began to reach down beneath his seat,” Keefe wrote in the book. “It was the first and only time in my life that I could relate to the police command, ‘Keep your hands where I can see them.’ Instead, Pac pulled out a strap, and that’s when the fireworks started. One of my guys from the back seat grabbed the Glock and started bustin’ back.”
Keefe D will not face the death penalty if convicted.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz83
It seems that Cardi B might be able to settle a legal issue that has been following her for years. Her assault trial has been postponed so she can work it out with her accuser.
Radar Online is reporting that the Bronx, New York native might have a chance to come to an agreement regarding a standing legal matter. Five years ago she was accused of assaulting a security guard in Los Angeles. Emani Ellis says the “I Like It” rapper was exiting her obstetrician’s office in Los Angeles, California. A then pregnant Bardi allegedly starting attacking Ellis after the security guard reportedly started filming her. Ellis would follow up with a lawsuit in 2020 stating that she suffered “physical, emotional, and psychological damages” and was left with a scar on her cheek.
Last week the celebrity gossip website obtained documents that were filed on October 12. The filing requested that the trial be pushed back to 2024 so they can hopefully settle the case via mediation. “Parties in an attempt to resolve this matter have agreed to a mediation with mediator John W. Shaw, Esq. at Shaw Mediations, and the parties are working on scheduling the mediation for December of 2023” the paperwork read. “As trial of the action is scheduled for November 14, 2023, the Parties have agreed to continue the trial date from November 14, 2023 to February 1, 2024 in order to accommodate the mediation, and to attempt to informally resolve their dispute”.
TMZ claims that an unnamed witness who was present described the incident very different saying things didn’t get physical and a staff member stepped in to break up the two women. Cardi B has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: @PhotosByBeanz / @PhotosByBeanz
Hip-Hop’s most infamous RICO case is getting more interesting by the day. Some of Rap’s biggest names could be called as witnesses in the YSL trial.
As per WSBT 2, Young Thug might be tapping into his Rap rolodex so folks can vouch for his character. Reporter Michael Seiden obtained the potential witness list for his defense. Included are Dwayne Carter, a.k.a. “Lil Wayne”; Dequantes Lamar, a.k.a. “Rich Homie Quan”; Bryan Williams, a.k.a. “Birdman”. His co-defendant Miles Farley listed Clifford Harris, Jr. a.k.a, “T.I.”; Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn a.k.a “Future”; and Michael Lamar White II a.k.a “Trippie Red.
The state has listed YFN Lucci, born Rashawn Bennett, as a potential witness as well. But the rapper’s legal team denies that he will take the stand in the trial. “Rayshawn Bennett (Lucci), has never been interviewed or subpoenaed by law-enforcement, the Fulton County District Attorney‘s office or any of the party’s regarding the YSL case” said Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg of The Findling Law Firm.
“Any party can announce for example that Abraham Lincoln is on their witness list, but those words alone are meaningless. So, to be 100% clear, Rayshawn Bennett (Lucci) will not be a witness in the YSL case. His focus, as it should be, is on his pending Fulton County case.”
YFN Lucci has long-standing problems with Young Thug and the YSL crew. Back in 2019 Thug posted that he is the new 2 Pac to which YFN responded “Pac would’ve never wore a dress.” From there things went left and some menacing threats were hurled both ways. Young Thug went on Instagram Live and said he was going to slap both Lucci and his comrade Sauce Walka.
The YSL trial starts next week.
Photo: @PhotosByBeanz
-
Pages