A$AP Joe is talking; the streets better listen. Joe Tacopina, A$AP Rocky’s lead attorney, pulled up on The Breakfast Club to talk Rocky’s case but ended up detailing why he didn’t join Diddy’s legal counsel. According to Tacopina, it was out of loyalty to JAY-Z.
“I represent Roc Nation. A lot of people in Roc I’m very close with,” Tacopina said. “Jay and [Roc Nation president] Desiree Perez, who’s the most amazing, like—bomb of a boss. Jay is amazing. You know, Jay Brown, all those people are just, like, they really are special, special people. That’s sort of family to me and I don’t think they see eye-to-eye with P. Diddy.”
He was about to move on, but Charlamagne Tha God made Joe run it back to make sure there is a clear divide between Hov and Puff.
You can hear it below.
But about that A$AP Joe name…. A$AP Rocky is celebrating his courtroom victory in true A$AP fashion—by making his attorney, Joe Tacopina, an honorary member of the A$AP Mob. After being acquitted of assault charges on Tuesday, the Harlem rapper showed major love to his lawyer, even bestowing him with the nickname “A$AP Joe” in a viral courtroom moment.
As Rocky and Tacopina walked out of the courthouse, the high-profile attorney praised his client, calling him a “great person” while Rocky playfully dubbed him the newest A$AP inductee. Tacopina, clearly emotional, doubled down on his admiration for the rapper and his circle. “They are seriously the greatest people. I said I love them, and I really do love them,” he told the press. “I got emotional in my summation because I really do care about them. This is one of the happiest days of my life, and I’m happy for them because they’ve earned this and deserve it.”
According to legal journalist Meghann Cuniff, Tacopina later revealed that Rocky and Rihanna told him they’d name their third child after him—a sign of just how deep their appreciation runs.
The case revolved around an alleged altercation between Rocky and his former friend, A$AP Relli, in which Relli accused the rapper of firing gunshots at him. If convicted, Rocky faced up to 24 years behind bars, though prosecutors had stated they would seek an 8- to 10-year sentence. Ultimately, the jury delivered a not-guilty verdict, and Rocky didn’t hold back his gratitude. “Thank y’all for saving my life. Thank y’all for making the right decision,” he told jurors before leaping into the audience to embrace Rihanna.
The singer also took to Instagram to share her reaction, posting, “THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE! THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!” Meanwhile, Rocky kept his message short and sharp, writing, “DON’T BE DUMB” on X (formerly Twitter).
With the legal battle behind him, Rocky is wasting no time getting back to business. Fans have been waiting for new music, and now that he’s free, all signs point to the long-anticipated album finally coming into focus.