A$AP Rocky Faces trial for alleged shooting of former friend

American rapper A$AP Rocky is set to face trial for allegedly shooting one of his former friends, co-founder of the hip-hop collective from which he derived his stage name. The 35-year-old, who has two children with Rihanna, is charged with assault with a semi-automatic weapon.

A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to the incident that occurred in November 2021.

Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli and a founding member of the collective, claims the rapper shot at him multiple times during a nighttime altercation in Hollywood, causing minor hand injuries.

The trial will explore the deterioration of their friendship and tensions within the collective, leading to the shooting incident.

A$AP Rocky’s defense denies the allegations, asserting that Ephron fabricated the incident to pursue financial gain.

A$AP Rocky, known for hits like “Long. Live. A$AP” and “At. Long. Last. A$AP,” faced legal troubles in 2019 after a brawl in Sweden, causing diplomatic tensions between Sweden and the United States.