Superstar rapper A$AP Rocky wasn’t the only one celebrating his recent court verdict.
The 36-year-old, whose long-time partner is musical superstar Rihanna, was found not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm by a California jury.
ASAP Rocky’s case stemmed from a shooting in 2021 involving him and fellow rapper A$AP Relli.
Relli alleged a bullet fired from A$AP Rocky grazed his knuckles.
However, A$AP Rocky claimed the weapon was only a prop that fired blanks.
During the trial, A$AP crew member A$AP Twelvyy testified it was in fact Relli who was the aggressor during the encounter and Rocky had carried a starter pistol which only fired blanks for several months.
Upon learning the verdict, Rihanna was in tears while Rocky said to the jury: “Thank y’all for saving my life.”
Perhaps those at League Two side Tranmere Rovers were also overjoyed at the outcome.
That’s because A$AP Rocky was previously mooted to be part of a consortium, led by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina, who were interested in taking over the club.
Although Tacopina is a lawyer by trade, he has a football background having previously held a seat on Roma’s board and he was president at Bologna.
Tacopina is also the chairman and co-owner of Serie C side S.P.A.L.
News of Rocky’s involvement broke last October as Tacopina’s investment group looked to buy 80 per cent of Rovers, which was valued at approximately £15million.
But now that Rocky has been cleared of the two assault charges, it means Tacopina’s takeover bid can resume with the added star power of the rapper.
Former Football Association chief Mark Palios, who took over the Rovers in 2014, previously discussed the impact of Rocky’s involvement in Tacopina’s consortium.
“It’s always been in the plan that we’d make a move on,” Palios told talkSPORT Breakfast last October.
“And it’s attracted, the names being mentioned, A$AP Rocky, who is supposedly aligned with Joe Tacopina. There’s a lot of people who are interested.”
Palios was especially hopeful Rocky’s star power could help provide a major financial boost for the club.
“He (Tacopina) would add value in the sense of, he’s an American who understands relegation because he’s been involved in football in Italy,” Palios said.
“He could also add value by bringing celebrities in, who can then increase the commercial potential of the club.
“You’ve seen it with Wrexham, et cetera, if you’re looking at that group of particular people, the US market is very attractive.
“We’ve seen it in the Premier League, even today, debating the struggles they’ve got because of the globalisation of football.
“And the US market, if you look at it, you’ve got the example of Wrexham recently, you’ve got the World Cup coming up there, you’ve got 85 million Americans watching English football – 45 million of which don’t have a club at this moment in time.
“Lower league clubs are potentially in their sights because the Americans always want sporting assets over here which are undervalued, and if you try to buy an MLS club, they’re ridiculous prices so people wouldn’t do that.
“There’s actually a gap in the market which just happens to coincide with where we are in terms of the development of the club and taking it to the next stage.”
Should Tacopina’s consortium include Rocky and complete their takeover of Tranmere, the rapper would not be the first celebrity to be involved with a club in the EFL.
Wrexham are the most notable example, as the Welsh side are owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Elsewhere, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is another, as the NFL legend is a minority owner of League One side Birmingham City.
Although Rocky and the consortium may be able to boost Tranmere’s finances, the League Two side could certainly do with some immediate help on the pitch.
The Rovers sit 22nd in League Two on 28 points, two clear of 23rd-placed Morecambe who occupy one of the two relegation spots to the National League.
