A key witness in the trial of rapper A$AP Rocky testified on Monday, saying he was never told the gun used in a 2021 incident was fake until the trial began. The witness, A$AP Relli, claimed that Rocky fired a gun at him, grazing his knuckles.
During questioning, Relli became frustrated with Rocky’s defense lawyer, at one point shouting, “You’re annoying, bro!” He also accused the lawyer of trying to confuse him. Despite the defense’s claim that Rocky only carried a starter pistol that fired blanks, Relli insisted he was never informed of this by Rocky or their mutual friends.
The prosecution presented text messages Relli sent to Rocky after the incident, including one where he wrote, “U try killing me.” When asked if Rocky ever responded by saying the gun wasn’t real, Relli said no.
Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. If convicted, he could face up to 24 years in prison. The case has been ongoing for over three years, and a preliminary hearing was held in 2023.
Rocky’s longtime partner, singer Rihanna, attended the first few days of the trial but was not present in court on Monday. The rapper had also been nominated for a Grammy Award the night before but lost to Kendrick Lamar.
Throughout his testimony, Relli was often evasive and angry. He criticized the defense lawyer and ignored the judge’s warnings to stay calm.
Last week, Relli denied recordings played by the defense that suggested he was trying to get money from Rocky. However, on Monday, Wally Sajimi, who recorded the calls, testified in court. In one of the recordings, a voice that sounded like Relli said he would stop cooperating with the criminal case if he got paid.
“Once I walk away, when I get my cash, the case will get way weaker,” the voice in the recording said. “It’s going to be hard for the DA to find me because I’m going to be on another island.”
Sajimi, who builds websites for artists and brands, testified that he has worked with both Rocky and Relli but is closer to Rocky. The defense argues that Relli only reported the shooting to the police as part of an attempt to get money from Rocky in a civil lawsuit.
The trial continues as both sides present their arguments.
