A hip-hop artist who is now representing himself in his two lawsuits against A$AP Rocky, including one that also names the rapper’s attorney as a defendant, is asking a judge for more time to hire his own lawyer to help him prepare for an upcoming hearing on an important motion.
A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was found not guilty by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury in February of two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, along with allegations that he personally used a firearm during the pair of confrontations with plaintiff Terell Ephron the evening of Nov. 6, 2021.
Ephron is also known as A$AP Relli. The hip-hop singer sued Mayers, now 36, and Mayers’ attorney, Joseph Tacopina, in September 2023, alleging that they falsely portrayed him in the media as a liar, a money grabber and a blackmailer. He also filed suit against Mayers in August 2022 stemming from the alleged shooting. Both civil cases are in Los Angeles Superior Court and Tacopina is seeking to be removed as a defendant in the one case during a hearing set for Sept. 8.
On Aug 22, the Miami resident — who until recently was represented in both cases by Camille Vasquez, who was Johnny Depp’s lawyer in his dueling litigation with former spouse Amber Heard — penned a letter to Judge Randolph M. Hammock notifying him that he needs another two weeks to hire an attorney to prepare his opposition to Tacopina’s anti-SLAPP motion. Ephron filed the letter with the court on Tuesday.
“Apologies for the delayed submission, I initially filed this document with the court on 8/22/2025 but was rejected twice due to incorrect format,” Ephron wrote. “I have no experience filing these documents and currently do not have representation to assist me.”
Ephron further says he is searching for a new attorney and has been in discussion with a lawyer. He also says he asked Mayers’ side to agree to a delay, but was told in response that the Sept. 8 hearing was set by the court.
“I believe this short extension will allow sufficient time to finalize new representation and ensure that all filings are made with the benefit of proper legal counsel,” according to Ephron.
In July 2024, Hammock placed a stay on Ephron’s defamation civil case in order to protect Mayers’ right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment. But after the criminal case concluded, Hammock lifted the hold and scheduled the hearing on Tacopina’s anti-SLAPP motion.
The state’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law is intended to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
“The general public was incredibly interested in the allegations against Mr. Mayers and his opinion regarding their validity, or lack thereof,” Tacopina’s attorneys argue in their anti-SLAPP court papers. “The interviews and statements given by Mr. Tacopina on behalf of Mr. Mayers, and himself, absolutely fall under the protection of the anti-SLAPP statute.”