On August 24, 2023, the spotlight turns to a preliminary hearing centering around a rapper accused of shooting his "friend" following a heated argument in the heart of Hollywood. The aftermath: a wounded victim left with injuries caused by bullet fragments and in need of medical attention.
Talk about deja vu.
No, Tory Lanez is not heading back to court, but A$AP Rocky is over an incident eerily similar to the Tory Lanez shooting case. Below are the details.
The Incident: A Verbal Altercation Turns Violent
On November 6th, 2021, A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, allegedly orchestrated a confrontation with Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relly. What started as a verbal dispute escalated quickly, with Rocky reportedly brandishing a gun and firing multiple shots. The aftermath left Relly with injuries
from bullet fragments, requiring medical attention. According to Relli, large parts of this altercation were captured on video, adding more intrigue to a case that was already a must-see.
Legal Battle Begins: Criminal Charges Trump Civil Lawsuit
A$AP Relli filed a civil lawsuit on August 10, 2022, seeking damages for assault, battery, emotional distress, and negligence. The lawsuit was filed before criminal charges were formally brought against Rocky. However, the priority of criminal charges over civil lawsuits led to an agreement in December 2022 to temporarily halt the civil case until the criminal aspect is resolved. This legal maneuver respects Rocky's right to avoid self-incrimination.
The Charges: Same Courthouse, Same Charge, Different Rapper
The stage is now set at the Los Angeles courthouse where Tory Lanez's legal saga played out. A$AP Rocky faces the main charge that took Tory down, 2 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm under 245PC.
Public Reaction and Speculation: Rocky's Next Moves
As the hip hop world watches, attention will be on A$AP Rocky's public response to the allegations. Will he employ the power of social media and blogs to spread false narratives, or will he opt for silence and professional PR spin? Will more public threats be made towards A$AP Relli,
raising questions about his safety? Additionally, Rihanna's involvement adds another layer of speculation. We know if she shows up to court with babies in tow, it's going to be crazy at that courthouse.
Final Thoughts: Tory Lanez Replacement
With A$AP Rocky's preliminary hearing this week, people can now stop trying to find loopholes in the Tory Lanez case. Those who wanted to play court reporters have another opportunity to get banned from the Los Angeles courthouse.
But, I am more interested in seeing how Hip Hop media/journalists/culture writers will handle this case after being embarrassed by white media in the Lanez incident due to their collective failure to combat the false reporting by "new media." Will they sit on the sidelines again, or will they be active to make sure accurate information about this case is getting out to black audiences?
For the record, I am not taking a side in this case...yet. Just because Tory Lanez is guilty, does not make A$AP Rocky guilty. But if it turns out that he did do this, I don't want people riding for him just because he is with Rihanna or he's a "bLaCk mAn." The victim is Black too. Hip Hop's obsession with protecting those who are sitting at the defendant's table over victims has to stop.
A$AP Relli's Civil Lawsuit Below:
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