A$AP Rocky trial begins in LA. All you need to know

Rakim Mayers, a.k.a. A$AP Rocky, - Source: Getty
A$AP Rocky at the trial (Image via Getty)

Rapper A$AP Rocky’s much awaited trial is officially underway. The court case stems from an alleged incident in 2021, where the hip hop star was accused of reportedly firing a semiautomatic firearm in the vicinity of his former friend, A$AP Relli.

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, has pleaded not guilty to charges for which he could face up to 24 years in prison if convicted, on two separate counts of felony.

Defense lawyer Joe Tacopina earlier said after a hearing on January 15, 2025, according to The Associated Press, as reported by USA Today:

“We’re ready to go. It’s been a long time.”

Tacopina added:

“It’s been something that’s waiting over Rocky’s head and Rihanna and their family’s heads for a while. We’re anxious to get this thing underway and get this behind him.”

Why A$AP Rocky is facing trial: Background of the case

The case pertains to A$AP Relli, whose real name is Terrell Ephron, accusing A$AP Rocky of firing a gun near him at a Los Angeles hotel in 2021. The parties involved, however, have a much longer history.

Rocky and Relli's friendship dates back to their high school days in New York. Later, Relli and Rocky were part of the hip hop collective called A$AP Mob, where A$AP stood for Always Strive And Prosper, according to WIkipedia.

Relli testified in court that the A$AP Mob remained tight-knit even as Rocky rose to superstardom, before their relationship began to deteriorate beyond saving. Relli reportedly claimed the feud reached a tipping point on November 6, 2021, when Rocky fired at him with a gun multiple times, and the shots grazes his knuckle.

Key players

The trial is already teeming with media coverage and all kinds of takes on social media, but there are two distinct names that are curiously waiting in the wings, although they do not have direct involvement with the proceedings.

Firstly, there is Rocky’s wife Rihanna. A verified mogul and pop icon, there are questions whether Rihanna will attend the proceedings and what kind of ripple effect a guilty verdict would have on their married life.

Then there is President Donald Trump. A Billboard report says when A$AP Rocky and his two guards were arrested in Sweden in 2019 after a brawl, Trump publicly declared he'd try to free the rapper and have him back in the United States. In the case pertaining to the alleged firing at A$AP Relli, Trump cannot provide a pardon to Rocky if convicted.

Now or Never?

What really stands out here is that beyond the trial, Rocky is at a critical artistic fork in the road of his career. While his filmography is modest, the rapper is set to star alongside silver screen legend Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's upcoming Highest 2 Lowest, which currently aims for a summer release.

The always fashionable rapper is also set to act as a celebrity chair at this year's Met Gala alongside Pharell Williams and LeBron James. It will be interesting to see if these two major opportunites are affected owing to the trial.

Edited by Vinayak Chakravorty
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