Rap star A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is awaiting a crucial decision that will determine whether he will face trial on charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. On Monday, a Los Angeles judge will hear evidence against the 35-year-old artist, who has pleaded not guilty to the two felony counts.

According to prosecutors, the alleged incident took place outside the W. Hotel in Hollywood on November 6, 2021. It is claimed that Rocky pointed a handgun at Terell Ephron, a former friend and collaborator, before firing shots that grazed Ephron's knuckles and caused minor injuries. Surveillance footage from the scene captured part of the altercation, showing Rocky brandishing a gun, although his defense team denies that he discharged the weapon.

During the initial hearing earlier this month, Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, testified that he and Rocky were close friends during their teenage years. They were part of the A$AP collective, a group of New York high school students who aspired to create music and explore other artistic avenues. However, their friendship began to deteriorate as Rocky allegedly failed to fulfill promised business ventures and neglected the other members of their collective, who were going through challenging times.

Prosecutors presented the surveillance video as evidence and intend to prove their case against Rocky. His arrest took place at Los Angeles International Airport in April, and he was officially charged in August. Rocky, a two-time Grammy nominee, attended the initial hearing on November 8, as is customary in felony cases, and is expected to be present for the upcoming hearing.

Rocky's music career has been marked by success, with his first two studio albums reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart in 2013 and 2015. In recent years, however, he has released minimal music and gained attention for his relationship with Rihanna, with whom he shares two children.

Interestingly, Rocky found an unlikely ally in former President Donald Trump in 2019. Trump publicly supported the rapper, who was detained in Sweden following a brawl. While Rocky was ultimately found guilty of assault at trial, he received a "conditional sentence" that did not involve further imprisonment.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, who represented the former president in his New York criminal case and others, is now representing Rocky in the Los Angeles case. Tacopina strongly challenged Ephron during cross-examination, suggesting that he fabricated the incident for financial gain, as Ephron has also filed a civil lawsuit.

Preliminary hearings in California serve as a condensed version of a trial, where the judge determines if there is sufficient evidence to proceed. The burden of proof is considerably lower than that required for a criminal conviction. Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar may reach a decision on whether to move forward with a trial as early as Monday, although testimony and the ruling itself could extend beyond that timeline.