If your name is Ace Roby, looks like you’re getting a free Bahama vacation! The trial is kicking off, and you know I’m here to cover all the action. We’ve even got Black Letter Law joining us live in the courtroom—this is going to be good!
Now, let’s get into it. We’ve been following this case for two years, and from the very start, we’ve been saying the evidence is weak. The DA has been pushing too hard, and it’s looking like ASAP Rocky is going to walk free. A lot of people thought he’d be heading to jail, but ASAP came through with the cash, and so did his girl. They hired the best lawyers money can buy.
Then came the surprise in court. The prosecution offered a plea deal, and ASAP Rocky straight up said, “Respectfully, I decline.” Why? Because the prosecution was rattled. They really don’t have any solid evidence. The only thing they’ve got is ASAP RI, and that’s a whole mess. So here’s a spoiler for you: the only person who can say he got shot is ASAP RI himself.
Here’s the thing: the police searched the scene for shell casings and found nothing. But then, out of nowhere, ASAP RI finds the shell casings that a whole team of detectives missed—after he said a bullet grazed his finger. Yeah, grazed it.
And then, there’s the video of ASAP carrying a “bang-bang.” The prosecution thought this would be their big break. But guess what? His lawyers flipped the script. They’re now saying what we saw wasn’t a real gun, but a prop gun. On top of that, their star witness is backing ASAP up, saying he didn’t do anything wrong. So while the prosecution is trying their best, it’s looking like ASAP Rocky might just walk away from this one.
The prosecutors were completely blindsided when their star witness ended up testifying in favor of ASAP Rocky. They tried to argue that they no longer wanted the witness to testify, but the judge shut that down and made it clear the witness would take the stand. Honestly, it feels like they walked right into a trap. We’re about to hear Alfie’s firsthand testimony about what happened in court.
And if that wasn’t enough, get this: 12vy is going to testify that REI was the aggressor. The DA is fuming because they just found out about this. At this point, multiple ASAP members are all testifying against each other, but it’s not what you think. They’re not turning on each other—they all believe REI is a liar, a sellout, and that he’s making up everything.
Let’s not forget ASAP Rocky’s been saying from the start that ASAP REI tried to extort him. He even claimed, “I’m paying you a penny,” and that’s when REI apparently came up with this whole story.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The DA was furious, especially when they tried to block W at 12b from testifying, arguing he was never mentioned before. Rocky’s lawyer pointed out that they had two years to question him but never did, despite the fact he was an eyewitness. The judge ruled that W could testify.
Nancy Dyan did a fantastic write-up in Rolling Stone about what’s been going on, and let me tell you, it’s a mess. But here’s something you need to know: the whole situation started when the FEDS swarmed ASAP Rocky’s private jet while Rihanna was pregnant. They pulled him out, handcuffed him right in front of her. You can imagine how upset she must have been.
Now, you might say, “Well, if he did it, he did it.” But the case against him has always been pretty weak. You’d think they’d wait to make an arrest until after Rihanna gave birth so she wouldn’t have to deal with all that stress.
Fast forward to the trial: ASAP Rocky turned down a plea deal on the first day. He sat quietly next to his lawyer, who argued that Rocky wasn’t carrying a loaded semi-automatic pistol, as the prosecution claims, but rather a prop gun. Rocky pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, despite prosecutors saying he fired shots outside a Hollywood hotel during a fight with ASAP REI.
The real kicker here is that the defense is now claiming the gun was just a starter pistol, and the prosecutors only found out about this defense on the eve of the trial.
During a hearing in late 2023, prosecutors showed a video from a security camera where they claim Rocky was holding what they called a “bang-bang.” But Joe Tacopina, Rocky’s lawyer, said they planned to bring in two witnesses. One of them, Jamal Desan Phillips (also known as ASAP2), was there that night and could testify that the gun was a prop. The other is a tour manager for ASAP, who was expected to explain that Rocky carries a prop gun for security after past incidents involving violence and stalking.
So why does Rocky carry a prop gun? It’s a fair question, but honestly, given how flimsy the case is, it seems believable. Still, the prosecution is furious because they just found out about the defense’s new angle. Deputy District Attorney John Leen didn’t hold back, calling it an ambush and saying the whole defense now hinges on this new witness statement.
The judge asked why the defense didn’t disclose this earlier, but Rocky’s lawyer fired back, saying they’d always planned to bring it up. In fact, he joked, “Should I just call and tell them what our defense is?” The prosecution wasn’t happy, but the judge stood his ground, deciding not to strike two witnesses from the case. Instead, the judge seemed to agree with the defense, saying they were on solid ground with their argument.
It’s getting heated in that courtroom, and I’m definitely going to keep following this case. Things are far from over.
The judge made it clear that it wasn’t fair for the defense to wait so long to bring up the starter pistol, especially since it’s central to their argument. Then, they ruled that the prosecution could mention it in their opening statements. ASAP is probably sitting there thinking, “Go ahead, tell them the gun wasn’t even real.” And honestly, I get why he’d feel that way.
You could tell the prosecution was frustrated, though. When the hearing wrapped up, the judge asked if they had made any final plea offer. The prosecution said they had: 180 days in county jail if ASAP pleaded guilty to assault with a semi-automatic firearm. It would also include three years of probation, a seven-year suspended prison sentence, 480 hours of community service, and a 52-week anger management program. The kicker? This would leave him with a felony record, which would mess up his ability to travel.
This is a guy who’s a huge international artist. He’s constantly flying around, especially to places like Paris for fashion gigs. And on top of that, he’s Rihanna’s partner. Offering him a deal that would ruin his career? That’s a tough pill to swallow.
So, let me get this straight. The deal they’re offering involves six months in jail, probation, tons of community service, and a year of anger management? And if he doesn’t take it, they’re pushing for at least 10-12 years in prison if he gets convicted? What is going on here?
When the judge asked if ASAP had reviewed the deal, he just calmly said, “Yeah, they went over it with me in detail, Your Honor. I respectfully decline. Thank you.” You’ve got to respect that decision.
Then, things got a little interesting. The judge asked if there was a marriage certificate, since the prosecution didn’t think ASAP and Rihanna were married. But the judge was like, “Wait, are they married?” ASAP’s lawyer didn’t have an immediate answer, but it’s clear there’s some drama there. Maybe they are married, but they’ve just kept it low-key.
And if they’re not married, it’s a little surprising. Rihanna is successful, beautiful, and talented—how could ASAP not want to make that official?
There was also a funny moment when the judge asked if Rihanna would attend the trial. The defense said she might show up but not every day, and the judge asked them to notify him in advance for security reasons. I mean, can you imagine? The judge probably can’t wait for that selfie opportunity.
As for the case itself, here’s the situation: In November 2023, the prosecution showed a video of the alleged gun assault, claiming ASAP fired shots near Selma Ave and Vista Del Mar Ave in Hollywood after an argument with ASAP REI. REI testified that they fought over ASAP supposedly breaking a promise to pay for a friend’s funeral. But ASAP’s lawyer says he did pay for the funeral, and that REI made up the story about the shooting to try and extort him.
The video shows a loud noise, which the prosecution says was a gunshot, but there were no shell casings or a muzzle flash. REI later claimed to find shell casings days later, but it’s unclear where those came from.
ASAP arrived at court looking sharp, in a black leather trench coat and flanked by security. People were snapping pics, and a deputy had to warn them their phones could be taken away. The judge reminded ASAP that being a celebrity wouldn’t get him any special treatment. When asked if he understood how serious the case was, ASAP nodded and said, “Yes, Your Honor. I’m fully aware.”
This trial is definitely one to watch, and it’s probably going to be televised. We’ll be following every update. What do you think of all this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Talk soon.
