A$AP Rocky first rose to fame as a part of the New York group A$AP Mob whose tumultuous history culminated in the rapper standing trial accused of shooting his friend, former colleague and fellow crew member A$AP Relli.
The star, 36, hit headlines on Wednesday when he was found not guilty of shooting Terell Ephron (A$AP Relli) during an altercation in Hollywood in 2021.
The three-time Grammy nominee – who is in a relationship with Rihanna – was charged with two felony counts of ᴀssault with a semiautomatic firearm against him.
Once close, the pair were members of the A$AP Mob crew while at high school in New York, but the relationship broke down after Rocky became famous – leaving some of the crew in the dust as many went on to fall victim to addiction troubles.
A$AP Mob is an American hip-hop collective formed in 2006 in Harlem, New York City, that consists of rappers, record producers, music video directors, and fashion designers – most of whom carry the ASAP (Always Strive And Prosper) moniker.
The crew was formed by Steven Rodriguez known as A$AP Yams, A$AP Bari, A$AP Illz and A$AP Kham in 2006.
Their group eventually expanded after A$AP Rocky, FERG, Playboi Carti, A$AP Twelvyy, A$AP Nast, A$AP Ant, A$AP Relli and others joined after 2011.
Following A$AP Rocky’s debut mixtape Live.Love.ASAP, the group released its debut project Lords Never Worry in 2012.
But over the years the 22 members of the crew have found different fates – with four tragically pᴀssing away mostly due to alleged drug overdoses.
The once close crew started to become more fractured after the first member pᴀssed away – ASAP Yams – and ASAP Rocky began to have more mainstream success.
In the trial ASAP Rocky’s lawyers told how Relli was ‘resentful and angry’ over the greater musical success of his one-time teenage pal and band-mate.
As A$AP Rocky is found not guilty in his trial, MailOnline takes a look at the terrible fates of some of the A$AP Mob.
Members of A$AP Mob: A$AP Ferg; A$AP Rocky; A$AP Bari; A$AP Twelvy; A$AP Illz and A$AP Yams seen in 2013. They are an American hip-hop collective formed in 2006 in Harlem
ASAP Yams
The tragedies started on January 18, 2015, when hip-hop executive and co-owner of the ASAP Worldwide record label ASAP Yams was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the age of 26.
He was a founder of the ASAP Mob collective.
The cause of death was ruled an overdose due to mixed drug intoxication, The New York Times reported at the time.
However ASAP Mob members and affiliates claimed that Yams had died of asphyxiating on vomit brought on by sleep apnea and denied that he ever took drugs.
A spokeswoman for New York City’s chief medical examiner said at the time that he died of an acute mixed drug intoxication (including opiates and benzodiazepine).
The tragedies started on January 18, 2015, when hip-hop executive and co-owner of the ASAP Worldwide record label ASAP Yams was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the age of 26
The death was ruled an accident.
ASAP Yams, born Steven Rodriguez, was found unresponsive in his Brooklyn apartment early in the morning of January 18 and was brought to Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, where he was pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.
ASAP Yams helped start the career of ASAP Rocky, whose 2013 studio album, Long.Live.ASAP, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.
A few week after his death ASAP Rocky was attending the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
He performed a set at the event which he cut short as he was struggling with his grief.
He told Billboard at the time: ‘That performance — that was just going to stop me from crying
‘I had to address it, because the whole time I was rapping and I wasn’t into it, which is sad, but I just gotta keep it real. I can’t front. It’s even harder knowing that I gotta fly out in less than an hour just to go bury him. That’s the part that eats at me.
He added of ASAP Yams’ cause of death: ‘People were saying that Yams overdosed on drugs — he didn’t overdose on any drugs.
‘I feel like people feel that way because that’s all he’s in pictures doing. When you see A$AP Yams you see Hennessey or purple drink, you see some type of controlled substance or illegal narcotic.’
He declined to discuss the real cause of Yams’ pᴀssing.
The group was working on a debut album before Yams pᴀssed away in 2015.
Since then, the Mob dropped two compilation albums, Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends (2016) and Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy (2017).
ASAP Snacks
Then on February 2, 2020, J. Scott, also known as ASAP Snacks, died.
The Mob confirmed via Twitter at the time with A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, Vince Staples and many others from the music community paying tribute to him.
He was a producer, DJ and creative for the Mob and Cozy Boys – the name of the Mob’s debut studio album.
It was not ever confirmed how he died but rumours online alleged it to be drug related.
ASAP Rocky penned in his tribute: ‘I’M LOST FOR WORDS, IDK WHAT TO SAY. RIP BROSAY A$AP 2 DA DEATH. LOVE U J SNACKS.’
ASAP Ferg said in his tribute: ‘Man, words can’t even describe how I feel right now.
Then on February 2, 2020, J. Scott, also known as ASAP Snacks, died (ASAP Rocky and ASAP Snacks seen together in 2014)
‘Rest In Peace to my brother @jscottandsнιт This was one of the healthiest guys I knew but I guess God needed him. Gone too young ‘cozy boy’ for life love u bro.’
The Atlanta native got his start with the collective after his move to New York City, where he met the late A$AP Yams and was asked to DJ for Rocky.
Chynna Rogers
Next, on April 8, 2020, Chynna Rogers was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ of an accidental drug overdose. She was 25 years old.
The star from Philadelphia was a model-turned-rapper.
‘Chynna was deeply loved and will be sorely missed,’ the family said in a statement to NBC News at the time.
James Garrow, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, confirmed that Rogers died from an accidental drug overdose.
Chynna signed with the agency Ford Models at age 14 after being discovered in New Jersey, but always had goals of being in the music industry.
The when she was in high school she teamed up with the late A$AP Yams, who went on to form A$AP Mob.
Next, on April 8, 2020, Chynna was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ of an accidental drug overdose. She was 25 years old
The star from Philadelphia was a model-turned-rapper. ‘Chynna was deeply loved and will be sorely missed,’ the family said in a statement to NBC News at the time
James Garrow, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, confirmed that Rogers died from an accidental drug overdose
Chynna signed with the agency Ford Models at age 14 after being discovered in New Jersey, but always had goals of being in the music industry
During a 2018 interview with Pitchfork she spoke about her addiction and the death of her mother – which she said impacted her sobriety efforts.
She told the publication: ‘I realized I didn’t have control of the situation anymore the day that I didn’t even feel like getting high, and my body was like, ‘B**ch, you better get high before you start throwing up and acting like a fool.’ It was really frustrating.
‘It got to the point where I had to do something just to be able to get onstage and do my job. I didn’t like that.
‘That was taking it too far, because it stops being fun and starts being because you have to, and that’s when you need to chill.
‘But in the music industry, no one is going to really tell you that, because there’s a lot of pot calling the kettle black, and honestly nobody wants to hear it. The more you tell someone not to do something, the more they’ll want to see what’s up with it.’
ASAP Josh
On October 16, 2021, ASAP Josh died.
Again, it was not ever confirmed how he died but rumours online alleged it to be drug related.
At the time his family set up a Go Fund Me to help pay for funeral expenses.
His fans paid tribute at the time saying online: ‘Devastated. Can’t believe won’t see you again. RIP Josh.’,
‘Rest in paradise.’, ‘Rest In Peace.’, ‘That’s crazy I was just with him.’
On October 16, 2021, ASAP Josh (pictured centre) died
Again, it was not ever confirmed how he died but rumours online alleged it to be drug related (he is seen right)
The future
Just last month FERG brutally confirmed that ASAP Mob is a ‘thing of the past’.
‘Well I don’t think there is A$AP anymore,’ FERG explained.
‘It’s not a Cozy Tape out — a new one — or it’s not an office. It’s not a record label. A$AP Worldwide is not a record label. I think it’s a thing of the past. I think people hold on to the legacy that we created and those things.’
‘When you think about A$AP I think, from the music point, you think about, like, me and Rocky,’ he continued.
‘People who did the music and all of that. Of course, it was built off the backs of Bari and Yams and all of that, but like we’re the faces. So I feel like if we not making no music and putting no new timestamps then there’s no A$AP.’
On Wednesday ASAP Rocky was found not guilty in court.
His partner Rihanna erupted in tears as the not guilty verdicts were read out on Tuesday. A$AP Rocky, who faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted, ran over and dived into her arms after being spared from a lengthy jail sentence.
On Wednesday ASAP Rocky was found not guilty in court
A$AP Relli, real name Terell Ephron, testifying during a hearing
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna step out for a late-night celebratory dinner at Gravitas Social Club in Beverly Hills after his not guilty verdict
‘Thanks y’all for saving my life,’ a jubilant A$AP Rocky told the jury, composed of seven women and five men, as he left the courtroom. He was later seen enjoying a celebratory dinner with Rihanna in Beverly Hills.
Read More A$AP Rocky goes viral with hilarious memes after dramatic jump on Rihanna as couple celebrated not guilty verdict amid shooting trial 
During the three-week trial, Relli testified that Rocky, real name Rakim Athelston Mayers, fired two sH๏τs from a handgun, grazing his knuckles.
The rapper’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, argued he was actually carrying a prop gun incapable of firing real bullets – and branded Relli an angry pathological liar’ who ‘committed perjury again and again and again and again’ during the trial.
It was not immediately clear whether the verdict was reached because the jury believed he was carrying a prop gun, or that he acted in self-defence.
Jurors began their deliberations on Tuesday after three weeks of testimony and arguments. It took them about three hours to reach a unanimous decision.
They had been instructed by Judge Mark S Arnold they could find Rocky not guilty if they deemed he was acting in self-defense.
Rihanna took to Instagram Stories Tuesday evening with an uplifting message after the verdict was read out.
‘THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE!’ the We Found Love artist said. ‘THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!’
Tacopina said Relli was ‘resentful and angry’ over the greater musical success of his one-time teenage pal and band-mate Rocky ‘and he embarked on a dangerous course of action.’
Hearing that Rocky didn’t pay for the funeral of a mutual friend, ‘Relli was furious – he threatened physical violence against Rocky,’ he went on.
‘But he was wrong – Rocky did pay for the funeral,’ added Tacopina who said that before his encounter with Rocky in Hollywood on November 6 2021, Relli ‘was angry and it was he who was the one looking for a fight that night.’
