Hip-Hop artist A$AP Rocky has been on trial for pulling a gun on a former friend in Los Angeles in 2021.
On February 18 the jury came back with a not guilty verdict of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Speaking to the jury the rapper said, “thank y’ll for saving my life.
Had he been found guilty, the 36 year old rapper, fashion mogul, actor, and partner to R&B artist Rihanna was facing over 24 years in prison.
Born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, the rapper turned down a plea bargain that would have sent him to jail for six months plus probation.
Rocky and partner Rihanna have two young sons – RZA who is two and Riot who is one. Rihanna was pregnant with Riot when she performed at the 2024 Super Bowl.
In the courtroom when the verdict was read, Rihanna hugged the defense attorneys.
Now that the trial is over, the artist can focus on his musical career. He is scheduled to appear at the Rolling Loud Music Festival, is a celebrity co-chair of the Met Gala, and will appear alongside Denzel Washington in the Spike Lee film “Highest 2 Lowest” this summer.
The prosecution claimed that the artist met with form “Mob” artist and friend A$AP Relli met on a Hollywood street and scuffled when Rocky pulled a gun and fired two shots. Relli said that one of the bullets grazed a knuckle but was otherwise unhurt.
The defense claimed that Rocky used a prop gun he had been carrying around for security and claimed Rocky fired the gun as a warning. He had taken the gun from a music video shoot several months before. Defense lawyer Joe Tacopina also said that Relli is a pathological lier who committed perjury.