Two years post the alleged incident, ASAP Relli, former member of the ASAP Mob, finally broke his silence in court about the terrifying night he claims he was shot by ASAP Rocky.
The Unveiling of an Unimaginable Truth
Terell Ephron, who was previously known as ASAP Relli, took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom to retell the bone-chilling events that took place on that fateful night. His testimony was as much about the alleged assault as it was about the history of the relationship he shared with the superstar rapper, ASAP Rocky.
Ephron brought to light the evolution of his rapport with Rocky, describing how the camaraderie between the two gradually morphed into a tense rivalry as Rocky’s fame began to rise.
2. Rocky’s Unfulfilled Promise
The breaking point arrived when Rocky committed to aiding the family of a deceased member of the Mob, a promise Ephron claims Rocky never honored. This act of betrayal, according to Ephron, instigated the events that led to the alleged assault.
On November 6, 2021, Ephron received a demanding phone call from Rocky, inquiring about his whereabouts. This call led to a meeting between the two at a Los Angeles hotel. Ephron alleges that Rocky, accompanied by several men, brandished a firearm at him. According to Ephron’s testimony, Rocky threatened him by placing the gun against his stomach and stating, “I’ll kill you right now.”
The Aftermath
Despite the immediate threat, Ephron was not shot at that moment. However, he claims that the sound of gunshots filled the air shortly after they split ways. He felt a burning sensation in his hand and alleges that he was shot four times by Rocky before the rapper fled the scene. Ephron chose not to report to the police until the following day, out of fear for his life.
Evidence Presented in Court
According to a report by Rolling Stone, a grainy video of the alleged shooting was presented in court. This footage, despite its lack of clarity, could potentially play a significant role in the case.
The video portrays a group of men embroiled in a scuffle at a Los Angeles intersection. While the shooting is not explicitly visible without enhancement, the court observed one individual sprinting away from the scene as the rest dispersed in all directions. Ephron, commenting on the video’s quality, said, “It’s a little blurry, but you can make out everybody.”
The Defamation Lawsuit
In addition to the assault case, Ephron has filed a defamation lawsuit against both Rocky and his attorney, Joe Tacopina. Ephron alleges that Tacopina initiated a media campaign that painted him as a dishonest opportunist, resulting in death threats and public humiliation.
Tacopina, in response to the lawsuit, stated, “This is actually nothing more than a publicity stunt which is going to backfire badly. I more than welcome this lawsuit especially because the resolution of the criminal case has not happened yet.”
In a heated moment during the court proceedings, Ephron addressed Tacopina directly, stating, “You’re just paid to be here. Me and this man knew each other for years.”
Rocky’s Stand
Rocky, who was present during Ephron’s testimony, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The hearing is set to resume on Thursday, November 9.
In this era of Music News filled with controversies and shocking revelations, this case stands as a testament to the dark side of fame and the potential consequences of unresolved conflicts. Only time will tell the outcome of this legal battle and the future of both ASAP Relli and ASAP Rocky.
The rapper ASAP Ant debuted his third studio album in May, Lil Black Jean Jacket 3. This album contained 16 tracks and additional features from KEY!, Curren$y, Lil B, Larry June, OhGeesy, A$AP Rocky, and more. On Tuesday (September 19), the Baltimore talent released a new visual for the opening track from the project, “Boss Decisions,” a 4 Dayz, Sparkheem, and Mannyvelli production that showcases why Ant and his Marino Infantry collective persevere under his leadership:
A short video clip accompanying “Boss Decisions” is provided by Dany Yako, which takes viewers to Munich, Germany. The video shows Ant at a variety of locations around the European capital, including his hotel, a monument, and a store that sells apparel.
Lil Black Jean Jacket 3 follow up to 2020 Lil Black Jean Jacket 2 (Ruby Edition), an album featuring 17 songs and collaborations with the likes of Zombie Juice, A$AP Twelvyy, JMK$, as well as Goonew. During that time, he released the second installment of Marino Infantry’s Enter The Infantry album as well as Infantry Warz, an album containing 24 tracks produced by Baby 9eno, Soduh, LuLu P, and Lil 2 Dow.
Joe Budden, a well-known rapper-turned-podcaster, recently shared his thoughts on Drake’s highly anticipated album, ‘For All the Dogs’, on Episode 664 of The Joe Budden Podcast. The conversation sparked a lot of discussion, with fans eagerly awaiting Budden’s critique of the album. While Budden has a complicated history with Drake, he has always maintained that he is a big fan of Drake’s music throughout his career.
In the podcast episode, Budden and his co-hosts delved into their thoughts on ‘For All the Dogs’, offering both positive and negative feedback. One of the standout moments from the podcast was when Budden called out Drake’s performance on the track “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole. This clip quickly went viral, catching Drake’s attention and reigniting their past issues. Drake responded by writing a lengthy Instagram caption aimed at Budden, criticizing his music career and questioning his credibility.
Budden’s Mixed Review of ‘For All the Dogs’
Despite the heated exchange between Drake and Budden, it’s important to note that Budden’s critique of the album was not entirely negative. Throughout the podcast episode, he shared his honest opinions on various aspects of the album, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a closer look at Budden’s thoughts on different tracks and elements of ‘For All the Dogs’:
“8am in Charlotte” – A Disappointment for Budden
Budden admitted to being a fan of Drake’s past entries in the time stamp series, but he found “8am in Charlotte” to be underwhelming. He expressed his disappointment, stating that the track didn’t live up to the rest of the series. While he acknowledged that Drake was “rapping well” on the song, he felt that it didn’t fit the mood or temperament he expects from the time stamp series.
Budden believed that “Virginia Beach” should have been a diss track directed at Pusha T, one of Drake’s long-standing rivals. He praised the beat of the song but questioned why Drake didn’t go all out in dissing Pusha T. Despite his disappointment in the missed opportunity, he still appreciated what Drake was talking about on the track.
Shots at Rihanna – Confusion and Criticism
Budden expressed confusion over Drake’s decision to seemingly take shots at Rihanna in the song “Fear of Heights”. He questioned why Drake would go after her and ASAP Rocky, the father of her children. He viewed it as petty and unnecessary, particularly since Rihanna hadn’t released an album in seven years. However, he did acknowledge the beat switch in the second half of the song as “insane.”
“First Person Shooter” with J. Cole – Budden’s Overall Issue with Drake
Budden pointed out that the song “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole exemplified his overall issue with Drake. He criticized Drake’s decision to let Cole’s voice be the first voice heard on the track, suggesting that it showed Drake trying to align himself with Cole when they aren’t actually close. Budden felt that Drake failed to rise to the occasion in comparison to Cole’s performance on the song.
Drake Rapping in Spanish – A Missed Mark for Budden
Budden made it clear that he never wants to hear Drake rap in Spanish again, particularly referencing the track “Gently” featuring Bad Bunny. He felt that Drake’s execution of rapping in Spanish was subpar and compared it to when Drake started singing “Happy Birthday,” suggesting that it was a low point in his career. He also described the second half of the album as “a mess.”
‘For All the Dogs’ as Drake’s Best Since ‘Scorpion’
Despite his criticisms, Budden acknowledged that ‘For All the Dogs’ is Drake’s best album since ‘Scorpion’, released in 2018. While his co-hosts argued that this may not be saying much, Budden expressed his disappointment with the current state of hip-hop albums in general. He believes that many rappers sound uninspired and lack the creative energy to innovate. He suggested that Drake could do with some time off to recharge and potentially bring fresh ideas to the table.
Missing Verses and Dominant Hooks
Budden questioned the absence of the verse that Lil Yachty praised on ‘For All the Dogs’. He couldn’t find the verse that Yachty claimed was one of Drake’s best, raising doubts about its inclusion on the album. He also expressed his disappointment in the lack of memorable hooks from Drake in recent times, as he believes Drake’s strength lies in his ability to create catchy and dominant hooks.
Drake Rapping for the Children
Towards the end of the podcast episode, Budden suggested that Drake’s album sounded like he was “rapping for the children” rather than his longtime fans. He felt that Drake should focus on creating music that resonates with adult audiences and tackles more mature topics. Budden compared Drake’s growth to that of J. Cole, stating that he wants to hear Drake rap for adult people.
A Break for Drake
Budden expressed his happiness that Drake is taking a break from music, referring to Drake’s recent announcement that he will be stepping away from the studio to focus on his health. Budden and his co-hosts even suggested that Drake could benefit from taking a year or two off between albums. They emphasized that Drake has already accomplished so much in his career, and it shouldn’t be solely on him to set the standard for the music industry moving forward.
In conclusion, Budden’s critique of ‘For All the Dogs’ was mixed. While he had several criticisms and disappointments with the album, he still considers himself a fan of Drake. He acknowledged the album as Drake’s best since ‘Scorpion’ but questioned whether that’s saying much given the current state of rap albums. Budden hopes to see Drake take some time off and return with a refreshed perspective and innovative ideas.
In the end, it’s clear that Joe Budden’s critique of Drake’s ‘For All the Dogs’ album is multifaceted. He presents both positive and negative feedback, highlighting specific tracks and elements that left an impression on him. While his comments may have sparked controversy, it’s important to recognize that Budden’s opinions come from a place of deep knowledge and experience in the music industry.
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