A$AP Rocky Reflects On “Nerve-Racking” Gun Assault Trial

A$AP Rocky is living on a high lately, especially after he and Rihanna revealed that she is pregnant with their third child. The 36-year-old rapper also recently spoke about his gun assault trial earlier this year, expressing his concern over possibly losing his freedom.

The Harlem rapper’s friend, A$AP Relli, accused him of shooting him back in November 2021, and the trial ensued this past February. Rocky was ultimately found not guilty and told Variety what the experience taught him. The publication asked if he was worried about being found guilty. He replied, “You got to stop yourself from thinking like that. Because that could get the best of you, and you can manifest that energy by mistake.”

However, he admitted that in the middle of it all, he was absolutely frightened. “I tried to stay positive at all times. But it was definitely gut-wrenching and nerve-racking, and I was definitely scared for my freedom.” With the verdict going his way, he couldn’t help but express gratitude. “I was so thankful that the jury made that decision. I was really thankful for how the judge was respectful and treated me like a first-class citizen. And I was thankful for my team and my lawyer, my family and my mom for being there with me the whole time.”

A$AP Rocky expressed his gratitude to partner Rihanna by leaping into her arms after he got the not guilty verdict, a moment that went viral on the internet. For him, that was simply “being happy and wanting to get the f**k out that building,” he told Variety. Now they can focus on preparing to welcome their third child into the world.

“It feels amazing, you know. It’s time that we show the people what we was cooking up,” he told The Associated Press this week of Riri’s pregnancy reveal. “And I’m glad everybody’s happy for us ‘cause we definitely happy, you know […] Honestly, it’s a blessing nonetheless. Because you know how like some people in other situations at times can be envious of other people. But we’ve been seeing love for the most part. And we real receptive to that and appreciate that, you know what I mean? […] That’s love. Love is love.”

The soon-to-be father of three’s journey toward a new normal includes his role in the upcoming Highest 2 Lowest film starring Denzel Washington. He revealed that his character is inspired by the legal issues he has endured over the last few years. “I was able to act like a piece of sh*t who was going away for a long time but didn’t realize the consequences, because in real life, I knew exactly what the consequences felt like,” he said. The “Fashion Killa” rapper added that acting was his “only escape” while he was dealing with the trial.