Issues are revving up for rapper A$AP Rocky and his ongoing felony trial. The Root beforehand reported the MC, whose actual title is Rakim Mayers, is dealing with critical expenses in connection to a 2021 incident in Hollywood the place he allegedly shot at a former buddy and A$AP mob member.
The rapper is charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, in response to the New York Publish. If discovered responsible, Rocky may very well be dealing with as much as 24 years behind bars.
Now, the jury has been chosen, and his trial is anticipated to start ASAP. So, with Rocky’s trial formally beginning, right here’s just some attention-grabbing particulars you is likely to be taken with figuring out.
1. A$AP Made a Dangerous Transfer
Mayers is clearly feeling assured concerning the case towards him as a result of he refused to take a plea… twice! “Sure, he was supplied a plea deal however is just not as a result of he’s truly harmless,” Rocky’s legal professional, Joe Tacopia, instructed ABC Information. “The phrases have been 180 days in jail, three years probation and some different minor situations on a plea to an assault with a gun cost.”
In reality, TikTok podcaster @imnotalawyerbut attended day one in all jury choice, and in response to her, when supplied the deal, the rapper leaned into his mic and instructed Decide Mark Arnold “I respectfully decline.” The decide then requested if the Harlem native was certain, and to that, Rocky doubled down.
2. Decide Calls A$AP’S Mother What?
As jury choice progressed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, Decide Arnold requested A$AP concerning the ladies seated in his part of the gallery. When the rapper recognized one of many ladies as his mom, Renee Black, and the opposite as his sister, the decide and Rocky’s lawyer then took a while to talk on her magnificence.
“You possibly can’t inform, proper, which one’s the mother?” legal professional Tacopina mentioned in response to authorized affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff on X.
“You should have had him if you have been about 7,” the decide instructed Black, who responded saying she gave start when she was 26. “You might be very stunning,” Decide Arnold then instructed her. “That’s on the document.”
3. Jurors Requested About Rihanna
Although Rocky’s on trial, it appears the prosecution is frightened concerning the mom of his two kids, Rihanna. Based on TMZ, whereas choosing the jury, attorneys requested questions particularly concerning the Bajan star.
Among the many questions requested have been whether or not folks ever heard of A$AP or Rihanna, listened to their music, or downloaded their songs. Moreover, whether or not they’ve ever purchased Fenty merchandise— like Fenty Magnificence make-up or Savage x Fenty— got here up in choice.
It was carried out in efforts to make sure an unbiased jury… however let’s be actual, Rihanna is a world pop famous person with a number of multi-billion greenback companies. Discovering any individual within the U.S. that hasn’t purchased her merchandise or at the very least her music needed to be troublesome for the prosecution.
4. The Racial Make-up of the Jury
Ultimately, a jury was chosen, and you might have an interest to know of the 12 jurors, none of them are Black. And with the decide being a white man, this trial is shaping as much as be very attention-grabbing.
Based on TMZ, seven of the jurors are ladies; the opposite 5 are males, however within the metropolis of Los Angeles, it looks like a jury of Rocky’s friends doesn’t embrace any Black of us. The jurors are reportedly white, Asian, and Hispanic. 4 alternate jurors chosen are all ladies, and none of them are Black both.