Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday in the trial of A$AP Rocky, the Grammy-nominated rapper accused of firing a gun at a former friend in Hollywood in 2021. If convicted, the 36-year-old could face up to 24 years in prison.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. His attorney has maintained that he committed no crime.
The hip-hop star, fashion mogul, and actor is the longtime partner of Rihanna, with whom he shares two young sons. While it remains unclear if Rihanna will attend the trial, Rocky’s attorney has indicated her presence is unlikely.
Rocky’s trial comes at a time when he is slated for significant professional milestones. He has been named a celebrity chair of the Met Gala in May and will star in an upcoming Spike Lee-directed film alongside Denzel Washington.
The case centers on allegations that Rocky shot at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend, during a confrontation on Nov. 6, 2021. Ephron testified during a preliminary hearing in 2023 that their relationship had deteriorated, and the feud culminated in the shooting. He stated that bullets grazed his knuckles during the incident. After hearing the evidence, a judge ruled that Rocky should stand trial.
Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold, who is presiding over the trial, has expressed a desire to seat a jury quickly and is imposing strict time limits on attorneys’ questioning of prospective jurors. “I will let the jurors know that regardless of who a defendant is, whether they’re the richest person in the world or the poorest person, everybody is to be treated the same,” Arnold said during a pretrial hearing.
Opening statements could begin as early as Wednesday. The trial will be open to media coverage, with Judge Arnold allowing cameras in the courtroom after jury selection is complete.