A$AP Mob Member’s Killers Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
In a recent development, justice has been served in the tragic case of A$AP Mob rapper A$AP Press, who passed away in 2018 due to complications arising from a shooting incident a year and a half prior. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. announced on Friday, September 8, that the two suspects in the case, Chester Taylor (37) and Darius Hastings (37), have been sentenced to 20 years-to-life in prison for their involvement in the crime.
Press, whose real name was Pressie Taylor Jr., had miraculously survived the initial shooting in 2016 but tragically succumbed to a fatal seizure caused by the head injury he sustained during the attack.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. expressed his thoughts on the case, saying, “Chester Taylor and Darius Hastings shot and killed a young Harlemite with great ambitions, talent, and a bright future. Although Pressie Taylor Jr. miraculously survived the shooting in its initial aftermath, his life was forever changed. He made a valiant attempt at resuming his life and music career, but unfortunately, he succumbed to the effects of his serious injuries, depriving his family and community of a promising star.”
“Thanks to the jury’s careful review of the evidence, both defendants were found to be responsible for his murder, and I hope that the sentences imposed today bring the victim’s family some form of peace,” Bragg added.
Meanwhile, in a separate event, A$AP Rocky was recently honoured with the Virgil Abloh Award in his hometown of Harlem. During the ceremony, he paid tribute to the late design visionary Virgil Abloh, highlighting Abloh’s role in recognizing A$AP Mob’s potential.
In his speech at the HFR 16th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards held at the iconic Apollo Theater, A$AP Rocky reminisced, “Virgil discovered A$AP as a bunch of kids before I got my record deal and any of that. We wasn’t old enough to get into this club called Le Bain. We were sneaking in type s**t.”
Continuing, he praised Abloh, saying, “Virgil peeped us and unbeknownst to us, he was like, ‘Wait, y’all are those Harlem kids. The trendy ones.’ We was tripping like, ‘Wait, Virgil know about us. The fashion world know about us.’ A year later, I become A$AP Rocky.”
A$AP Rocky also acknowledged Abloh’s contributions to his career, noting, “Virgil went on to design my first album cover and my first tour. It’s crazy because to be a trendsetter, it takes a lot of balls… The reason I can talk in front of y’all today is because of Harlem. Thank you Harlem fashion, bro.”
