American Rapper, A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, appeared in court today as his former friend and fellow rapper, A$AP Relli, described how the star allegedly nearly killed him in a gunfire incident. Mayers had pleaded not guilty last August to two assault charges with a semiautomatic firearm related to the 2021 incident, potentially facing up to eight years in jail if convicted.
During the hearing, A$AP Mob member Terell Ephron testified that Mayers threatened to kill him and fired at least four shots toward him on November 6, 2021. Ephron explained how their relationship soured as Mayers’ career soared, culminating in a confrontation at an LA hotel where Mayers reportedly pulled a gun on him, yelling threats before firing shots.
Ephron, who was hit in the hand during the incident, took a day to report the shooting, leading to a warrant for Mayers’ arrest. Law enforcement officers were later seen at Mayers’ LA home, collecting evidence after smashing through the gate with a battering ram.
This incident is not Mayers’ first legal entanglement; in 2019, he was arrested in Sweden for assault, receiving a suspended prison sentence and a fine. Mayers had a previous run-in with the law at 16 when he faced attempted murder charges after confronting an alleged bully during his youth, a situation he recounted on Untold Stories of Hip-Hop two years ago.