A$AP ROCKY AND RIHANNA PLAN TO NAME ‘NEXT BABY A$AP JOE’ AFTER RAPPER’S LAWYER
A$AP Rocky is officially a free man after being found not guilty on all counts in his highly publicized assault case. The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, walked out of court on Tuesday afternoon victorious after a nearly four-week trial.
Following the verdict, “Extra’s” Billy Bush sat down with Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, who opened up about the intense legal battle and the rapper’s emotional response.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Already Have a Name in Mind for Their Next Baby
Tacopina revealed that Rocky and Rihanna, who share two sons—RZA, 2, and Riot, 1—jokingly told him they have their next baby’s name planned.
“They grabbed me and said, ‘Listen, our next baby is A$AP Joe,’” Tacopina shared with Extra after the rapper was acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The charges stemmed from a 2021 shooting incident involving former friend A$AP Relli.
“I said, ‘I’m gonna hold you to that!’” Tacopina added with a laugh.
A$AP Rocky’s Emotional Reaction in Court
Rocky faced the possibility of up to 24 years in prison had he been convicted. When the not-guilty verdict was read, the rapper grabbed onto his legal team before turning to Rihanna and his loved ones in the courtroom’s front row.
Tacopina admitted he initially worried about Rocky’s reaction, as the rapper began celebrating after the first count was announced instead of waiting for the full verdict.
“He didn’t know if he was going to go home and see his two babies that night or start a decade-long prison sentence literally that day,” Tacopina said.
Why Rihanna Brought Their Kids to Court
Rihanna’s presence in court, along with their children, sparked discussion last week, but Tacopina emphasized that it wasn’t about swaying the jury.
“Listen, he has a family. It wasn’t a secret to this jury,” Tacopina stated. “Rihanna was there almost every day.”
Billy Bush suggested that seeing the rapper’s family may have made an impact. “This is the family he’s gonna be away from,” Bush noted.
Tacopina, however, disagreed. “I don’t think it was helpful for them to see it. What the real reason was, was this: That day was summations, and in theory, what we initially believed, the judge had told us he was gonna start the jury deliberations that day right after summations. If they came back with a quick verdict like they did and it didn’t go his way, that would be the last time he saw his children.”
He continued, “So, she wanted them in court, in the courthouse, the littlest one stayed outside. But, you know, RZA was inside because he’s a little older and he comported himself very well, looked like a sweet little gentleman.”
With the trial now behind them, Rocky and Rihanna can focus on their growing family—perhaps with an A$AP Joe on the way!
