A$AP Rocky Claims He Didn’t Commit a Crime, Says He’s Being Extorted

A$AP Rocky is claiming that his former associate is out for money and trying to extort him. Back in November, Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, allegedly shot his former friend and A$AP Mob member A$AP Relli (born Terell Ephron) in the hand in Hollywood. Rocky was later charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The rapper’s lawyer Joe Tacopina, tells gossip site TMZ, “Rocky didn’t a crime. It was an extortion attempt by a former associate, who threatened to make false criminal accusations if Rocky didn’t pay him.”

Tacopina told the outlet that he has two eyewitnesses that back up Rocky’s story. He suggests that Relli was not hit by bullet fragments because no shots were ever fired. Tacopina says Relli has made up the story in a “get-rich-quick scheme.”

“What will become abundantly clear in the upcoming months, based on facts and evidence, is that Rocky is innocent of these charges,” Tacopina said.

Rocky previously pled not guilty to both criminal charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Ephron’s attorneys, Jamal Tooson and Brian Hurwitz, previously said in a statement per Rolling Stone that Relli was lured to an obscure Hollywood location “to discuss a disagreement between the two of them,” when the incident occurred.

“Unbeknownst to Mr. Ephron, A$AP Rocky was not just planning for a conversation and came armed with a semi-automatic handgun,” the statement alleges. “After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, A$AP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron.”

Relli, who served as a talent manager and producer for the A$AP mob says that Rocky inflicted minor injuries to his left hand. Relli’s attorneys state that since the shooting, he has received “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career in the entertainment industry as a result of this incident.”

Mayers was arrested back in April at Los Angeles International Airport in connection with the shooting. He was later released on a 550k bond.

10 Of The Best Hip-Hop Of Songs May & June 2022

• 10. "Jimmy Cooks" Drake ft. 21 Savage

  Drake surprised the world when he dropped his seventh studio album Honestly, Nevermind on June 17. Although the surprise LP is a dance album, Drizzy recruited 21 Savage for his only rap song on the project, “Jimmy Cooks.” It’s rumored that on 21’s verse he’s taking a shot at Kendrick Lamar but neither rapper at the time of this posting has confirmed if there is actually an ongoing feud.

• 9. "D.M.B." A$AP Rocky

  A$AP Rocky made his directorial debut in his newest music video and song “D.M.B” (Dats My Bitch) starring girlfriend Rihanna. The video was released on May 5 and showed A$AP taking his relationship with RiRi to the next level when he asked her to marry him via his grills. The two welcomed their first child together on May 13.

• 8. "N95" Kendrick Lamar

  “N95” was one of the standout songs on Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers which was released on May 13.  “N95” debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100, the highest ranking of all the songs on the album. Additionally, three other songs on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers debuted in the top 10 including “Die Hard” with Blxst and Amanda Reifer (#5), “Silent Hill” with Kodak Black (#7), and “United in Grief” (#8). All 19 songs on the LP made the Billboard Hot 100.

• 7. "Booty" Saucy Santana ft. Latto

  Saucy Santana dropped his upbeat single “Booty” on June 10. The track makes use of the horns from the Chi-Lites’ “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So),” which were also used in Beyoncé’s 2003 “Crazy in Love.” The song features Latto, marking their second time collaborating. They previously worked together on DJ Nature Boy’s “Up & Down” which was released in 2021.

• 6. "Cash In Cash Out" Pharrell Williams, 21 Savage, and Tyler, The Creator

  Pharrell Williams, 21 Savage, and Tyler, The Creator dropped “Cash In Cash Out” on June 10. “Cash In, Cash Out” marks the first time all three artists have collabed on a song together. Tyler and Pharrell previously worked together on NIGO’s compilation project I Know NIGO! that was released back in March.

• 5. "Cooped Up" Post Malone ft. Roddy Ricch

  Post Malone dropped his fourth studio album Twelve Carat Toothache on June 3, 2022. “Cooped Up” was the first single from Twelve Carat Toothache which featured a guest appearance from the Compton rapper Roddy Ricch. Posty and Roddy performed the single on their Saturday Night Live debut on May 14.

• 4. "Churchill Downs" Jack Harlow ft. Drake

  Jack Harlow dropped his second studio album Come Home the Kids Miss You on May 6, 2022. Once the album was released, “Churchill Downs,” featuring Drake, instantly became a standout record. The album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart dated May 12.

• 3. "Vegas" Doja Cat

  Doja Cat released “Vegas” on May 6, 2022 which is a part of the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic. “Vegas” interpolates Big Mama Thornton’s 1952 song “Hound Dog.”

• 2. "The Heart Part 5" Kendrick Lamar

  In anticipation of Kendrick Lamar’s fifth studio album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, the Compton-bred rapper dropped “The Heart Part 5.” In the video, the rapper’s face morphs into several deepfakes, including OJ Simpson, Will Smith, Jussie Smollett, Kobe Bryant, Kanye West, and Nipsey Hussle. In each verse, he raps touches on a personal topic related to the Black celebrity. “The Heart Part 5,” is the latest installation of his “The Heart” singles series. The tracks have always arrived prior to the release of a larger project.

• 1. "Wait For U" Future ft. Tems and Drake

  “Wait For U” is from Future’s album I NEVER LIKED YOU which was released on April 29. The song quickly became a fan favorite and soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 while the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This became Future’s second No. 1, Drake’s tenth, and Tems’ first. Tems made history as the first Nigerian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100. “Wait For U” samples Tems’“Higher” which was featured on her EP for Broken Ears.