In a striking testimony during his trial, the accuser of A$AP Rocky, a former friend and pivotal witness, recounted the deterioration of their relationship over the years, culminating in a shocking incident where Rocky allegedly brandished a firearm in Hollywood. The individual, known as A$AP Relli, expressed his disbelief and anger at the turn of events, stating, “I told him to use it. Because mentally I couldn’t believe it. I physically could not believe there was a gun in my face. That was the breaking point for me.”
As the day’s proceedings came to a suspenseful pause, Relli was poised to recount the moment when Rocky purportedly fired shots. The renowned hip-hop artist, who has maintained a not guilty plea to two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, stands at the center of this high-profile case.
Relli, whose legal name is Terell Ephron, shared that he and Rocky, whose birth name is Rakim Mayers, were once akin to brothers within a tight-knit collective of innovators in their New York high school, dubbed A$AP—an acronym for Always Strive and Prosper. He emphasized how their bond waned after Rocky’s rise to fame, noting, “I called him Mr. Six Month Man. I would see him every six months.”
Despite his initial hesitance on the stand, Relli’s demeanor shifted as he recounted the lead-up to their confrontation, revealing that he overheard Rocky using disparaging language about him prior to their meeting. On November 6, 2021, when they convened, an eruption of hostility ensued. Relli described how Rocky swiftly drew a semiautomatic handgun, pointing it at him and raising questions about its presence.
As Relli prepares to continue his testimony, he faces a rigorous cross-examination from Rocky’s defense, which contends that he was the provocateur, asserting that Rocky was wielding a prop gun meant for intimidation rather than lethality. Meanwhile, the prosecution alleges that Rocky discharged two shots at Relli, who claims to have sustained grazes from the bullets. The trial unfolds amidst assertions from the defense that Relli’s motives are driven by envy and financial gain, as he has pursued civil litigation against Rocky in addition to these charges.
Vocabulary List:
- Testimony /ˈtɛs.tɪ.mə.ni/ (noun): A formal statement given in a court of law.
- Deterioration /dɪˌtɪə.ri.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The process of becoming progressively worse.
- Allegedly /əˈlɛdʒ.ɪd.li/ (adverb): Used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place although there is no proof.
- Confrontation /ˌkɒn.frʌnˈteɪ.ʃən/ (noun): A hostile or argumentative situation or meeting between opposing parties.
- Provocateur /prəˌvɒk.əˈtɜːr/ (noun): A person who provokes others especially for political reasons.
- Assert /əˈsɜːrt/ (verb): To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
