Today (October 22), the “Tailor Swif” rapper’s pretrial hearing for his alleged assault of former associate ASAP Relli (real name Terell Ephron) was held at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, California.
During the hearing, Judge Mark Arnold rescheduled A$AP Rocky’s trial for the supposed assault according to AllHipHop. The previous court date was set for November 12. Following the judge’s decision, Asap Rocky’s new assault trial date will now begin on January 21, 2025.
The outlet claims the reason for the shift boils down to the presiding judge taking Asap Rocky’s performance schedule into account, specifically his upcoming set at Rolling Loud Thailand on November 22. While Asap Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina reportedly argued other reasons for the judge to consider for a postponement including the “upcoming holidays” and “issues with discovery.”
Outside of the courthouse, Tacopina answered questions by the press regarding the change in trial date (viewable here). “We set the final and definitive trial date which is now January 21, 2025,” he said. “Everyone just decided it’s best to do this in January. It’s a firm date. It’s a real date. He’s really eager to get this done, to get this behind him. So, [he] was not really looking to push this off that far, but it’s standard stuff that happens when you’re doing trials.”
ASAP Rocky returned to court this week to enter a plea in the ongoing assault case against him brought by former ASAP Mob member ASAP Relli, maintaining his innocence. Although he had previously pled not guilty to shooting Relli in the hand, after a judge ruled that prosecutors had enough evidence to warrant a trial, he was compelled to do so again. According to Rolling Stone, Rocky and his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, hope that the trial can begin by September, so that the “DMB” rapper can focus on “enjoying his family.”
Who Is ASAP Rocky Accused Of Shooting?
Rocky is accused of shooting Relli in November 2021 after a confrontation over a mutual friend’s funeral expenses. Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron, says that after he sent Rocky an email accusing him of being “fake,” he was ambushed by Rocky, who pulled a handgun on him. He said that after “talking a bunch of sh*t” to Rocky, the rapper turned around and fired several shots, with one hitting Relli in the hand.
Relli is also suing Rocky for assault, battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Tacopina has characterized the accusations as a shakedown, an attempt to extort money from Rocky in exchange for Relli dropping the charges. While detectives recovered private security footage they say backs up Relli’s account, they have so far been unable to find any physical evidence that ties Rocky to the alleged crime. No guns were recovered and no fingerprints were found on the shell casings Relli says he collected from the scene.
Did ASAP Rocky Plead Not Guilty?
Not only did ASAP Rocky plead not guilty — twice — but he and Tacopina also maintain that they have evidence to back up their own insistence that Relli tried to extort Rocky and perjured himself in court by saying he never asked Rocky for money.
ASAP Rocky’s holiday season is off to a rough start. According to CBS, the “Riot” rapper’s felony assault case has taken a turn for the worse. On Monday, November 20, during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, California, Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar reportedly ruled that Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, must stand trial for allegedly firing a loaded weapon at his former friend and music collaborator ASAP Relli (real name Terell Ephron).
Mayers’ attorney, Joe Tacopina, reportedly questioned LAPD detective Frank Flores about the validity of the weapon in question allegedly shown in court video. “That gun or whatever it was was not tested, right,” asked Tacopina.
Flores replied, “No, it was never recovered.”
Tacopina said, “You’re not sure if it’s an operable gun or a non-operable gun or whatever?”
“Without having it, I can’t tell you whether it’s operable,” answered Flores.
Back in September, Mayers entered a plea of not guilty on both charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. However, if a jury finds Mayers guilty, he could face nine years in prison. That’s just the one side of the legal matter. Both Mayers and his attorney were supposedly named in a civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim. The victim’s legal counsel alleges both parties “damaged [Ephron’s] reputation and his personal brand; goodwill in the community as a member of A$AP Mob,” which could result in loss of future wages.
Ephron is seeking punitive or exemplary damages in addition to the legal fees he incurred.
ASAP Rocky went to court yesterday for a preliminary hearing in the shooting case against him. There, ASAP Relli, the former ASAP Mob member who accused Rocky of shooting him in the hand in 2021, testified that Rocky told him, “I’ll kill you right now,” before opening fire four times.
Police also raided Rocky’s home in Los Angeles, reportedly finding a gun, but not the one used in the alleged shooting. Police also said they secured footage of the shooting, providing enough evidence to officially charge the rapper for assault.
Relli later sued Rocky and his lawyer Joe Tacopina for defamation, arguing that statements Tacopina made about Relli “trying to get money from Rocky” constituted slander.
According to TMZ, Tacopina cross-examined Relli, trying to expose inconsistencies in his story and questioning why he delayed going to law enforcement. Relli insisted that he only waited to report the alleged attack for fear of retaliation. He also denied that the report was a money play, while detailing how exactly the ASAP Mob members fell out.
The ongoing legal saga surrounding rapper ASAP Rocky has taken a dramatic turn. TMZ reported that new details emerged about allegations that Rocky threatened to kill ASAP Relli. Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, recently questioned Relli in court. It lead to a combative back-and-forth that dived deep into the alleged victim’s personal history with Rocky and the circumstances surrounding the case. Tacopina’s questioning was strategic, with the aim of getting Relli to admit that he may have had ulterior motives in reporting the alleged threat. However, this tactic hinted at the possibility that Relli might have waited to raise the issue with law enforcement for reasons other than fear. Essentially Tacopina suggested there was financial incentive for him in reporting it.
Relli, however, stood his ground. Moreover, during the questioning, he reiterated that he delayed reporting the incident due to his genuine fear of retaliation. He firmly maintained that he was a victim of gun violence. And he denied any involvement in attempting to extract money from the situation. The exchanges in court were, at times, tense and heated, reflecting the gravity of the allegations and the stakes involved. However, according to Relli, a heated exchange between he and Rocky escalated to a chilling moment. He says Rocky allegedly pressed a gun against his stomach, saying, “I’ll kill you right now.”
ASAP Rocky’s First Day In Court For Criminal Trial
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 17: Rapper A$AP Rocky pleads not guilty to assault charges during his arraignment hearing at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on August 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, has been charged with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm stemming from a November 2021 incident in Hollywood. He remains free on $550,000 bond and is due back in court November 2. (Photo by Irfan Khan-Pool/Getty Images)
He asserted that Rocky fired approximately four shots before making an escape, leaving his hand struck and injured. According to a source directly familiar with the proceedings, Relli’s case may be weakened. This is due to inconsistencies addressed during the preliminary hearing. They believe that Relli may have been exposed, and his case may not hold up in front of a jury. However, the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, as the legal process continues to unfold. This ASAP Rocky case will be closely watched by fans, the media, and the music industry. Given Rocky’s high-profile status and the serious nature of the allegations.
Moreover, while the legal battle may be intensifying, the final verdict will be determined by the evidence presented in court and the decisions of the legal system. As this legal drama unfolds, the world awaits further developments. This case that has captured the attention of many, and time will ultimately reveal the true outcome of the allegations against ASAP Rocky. Let us know your thoughts on HNHH!
ASAP Rocky is reportedly in “early discussions” of a possible settlement in the lawsuit ASAP Relli filed against him regarding an altercation in November 2021, according to Radar Online. For the incident, prosecutors claimed he shot his former friend to which Rocky pleaded not guilty. They charged him with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
“Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said. “My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.” Afterward, Relli sued Rocky for assault, battery, intentional affliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 25: A$AP Rocky performs onstage during the 2021 Governors. Ball Music Festival at Citi Field on September 25, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Governors Ball)
In response to the lawsuit, Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina accused Relli of trying to extort his client. “It was an extortion attempt by a former associate, who threatened to make false criminal accusations if Rocky didn’t pay him,” he told multiple outlets, as noted by AllHipHop. After the comments, Relli filed a second lawsuit against Rocky and his lawyer, accusing them of defamation. Speaking with Rolling Stone, Tacopina added that the decision would backfire: “It will expose the fraud committed by their client. It’s unfortunate that these lawyers don’t know the facts of this case or the actions of their client, but I will be happy to educate them.” For the defamation lawsuit, Relli hired Johnny Depp’s lawyer, Camille Vasquez, from his own case with Amber Heard.
Rocky will appear in court for a preliminary hearing in his criminal case on November 8. Be on the lookout for further updates on the lawsuit as well as Rocky’s criminal case on HotNewHipHop.
“Riot (Rowdy Pipe’n)” rapper ASAP Rocky is currently laying low with his partner, music superstar Rihanna, while they celebrate the birth of their second child. Unfortunately, that at-home bonding time may be cut short as Rocky (real name Rakim Mayers) could be heading to a courtroom to clear his name.
According to Rolling Stone, both Mayers and his attorney, Joe Tacopina, have reportedly been named in a defamation lawsuit. In court documents obtained by the publisher, several public remarks made by or on behalf of the pair regarding his ongoing felony assault case (which dates back to November 2021) are allegedly damaging.
The alleged victim and former ASAP Mob member Terell Ephron (aka ASAP Relli) and his legal representative, Camille Vasquez, have filed a suit against the parties, accusing them of slander and making false statements to the press. One of the remarks came via a statement shared with Rolling Stone, where Tacopina alleged that Ephron’s civil lawsuit for the reported shooting was him “trying to get money from Rocky” and referring to the incident as a “false scenario.”
Vasquez emphasized those statements:“damage [Ephron’s] reputation and his personal brand; goodwill in the community as a member of A$AP Mob,” which could result in loss of future wages. The documents list that Ephron is seeking punitive or exemplary damages in addition to his incurred legal fees.
Mayers’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 8.
ASAP Rocky was arraigned in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning on two charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Accompanied by his lawyer, Sara L. Caplan, Rocky quickly entered a not guilty plea to both charges and was placed on a $550,000 bond. If convicted, the rapper could face up to nine years in jail. These charges stem from an altercation with ASAP Relli where Rocky allegedly shot Relli. Relli is also suing Rocky for assault and battery, negligence, and emotional distress.
The case at hand claims that on November 6th, 2021, ASAP Rocky asked ASAP Relli to meet him in Hollywood. But as Relli’s lawyers contend, this wasn’t just a meet-up that Rocky had planned, but the rapper instead had a premeditated purpose of shooting Relli. He allegedly did and struck Relli in the hand. Months later, Rocky was arrested at LAX airport in April, his house was raided and police say they found surveillance footage of the incident, but can’t produce the weapon used in the assault.
While ASAP Rocky is out on bail, Caplan asked the judge if he’d be able to travel for work. Per a Rolling Stone report, the judge said that he’d have to “clear dates” ahead of time to do so. This makes it seem like the rapper should be able to perform his headlining set at Rolling Loud New York on September 24 while out on bail.
A preliminary hearing for ASAP Rocky on the two assault charges is set for November.
ASAP Rocky has had a relatively quiet couple of years since being released from Swedish detention after a brawl on the streets of Amsterdam. Mostly it seems he’s been dropping guest verses on projects from Black Thought, Nigo, and Snot, performing at Rolling Loud, and enjoying becoming a new dad with Rihanna. But in April, Rocky ran into even more legal trouble. He was arrested at LAX in connection with a shooting on November 6 last year and police searched his home, finding guns, but only legally-obtained ones.
Earlier this week, nearly four months after the initial arrest, the alleged shooting victim came forward. ASAP Relli, a member of Rocky’s ASAP Mob collective who works as a manager and a producer, told Rolling Stone that he was lured to central Hollywood, where Rocky supposedly shot at him without provocation. Relli also said that he intended to file a lawsuit against Rocky because he’d received “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident.” Police say they were able to recover surveillance footage of the alleged shooting but during their search of Rocky’s home were able to tell that none of the guns there were used in the shooting without testing.
Now, ASAP Relli — a talent manager, producer, and a member of the hip-hop collective ASAP Mob — has stepped forward as a victim of the shooting. Real name is Terell Ephron, he will be filing a civil lawsuit against Rocky, according to Rolling Stone. Attorneys Jamal Tooson and Brian Hurwitz claimed that Rocky lured Relli to central Hollywood and showed up with semi-automatic handgun. “After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, ASAP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron,” they told Rolling Stone.
They also said that Relli has received “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident.”
ASAP Rocky has an extensive history of legal issues in his native New York, where he spent time on Riker’s Island for selling drugs and has been involved in several fights that ended with him being charged with assault, but nothing involving guns.
