NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Loyal Duce, Taxstone, and Fame School Tell attend Highline Ballroom on August 11, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
<p>After several delays, the <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/?s=taxstone&;post_type=post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Taxstone</strong></a> murder trial is finally underway this week in New York, and <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/?s=troy+ave&;post_type=post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Troy Ave</strong></a> is expected to testify, per reports.</p>
<p>The trial will likely focus on the rivalry between the two rappers, which escalated at a T.I. concert in New York City back in 2016.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Trial Likely To Focus On Beef Between The Two Rappers &; A Deadly Shootout At A T.I. Concert In 2016</h3>
<p>Taxstone (real name Daryl Campbell) and Troy Ave (real name Roland Collins) reportedly shot at each other inside the venue, leading the death of Brooklyn rapper&#8217;s bodyguard Ronald &#8220;Banga&#8221; McPhatter.</p>
<p>Taxstone’s DNA was eventually found on a semiautomatic handgun used in the fatal shooting, prompting his arrest a year later in January 2017.</p>
<p>According to <em><strong><a href="https://www.vladtv.com/article/291586/taxstone-murder-trial-begins-today-troy-ave-drug-dealer-malcolm-kinyon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vlad TV</a></strong>, </em>the trial was delayed multiple times before finally beginning on Wednesday (Feb.15)</p>
<p>The former rapper and podcast host faces life in prison if convicted, the outlet reports.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Prosecutors Reveal They Have Two Cooperating Witnesses, With Troy Ave Being One Of Them</h3>
<p>Meanwhile, Taxstone has already pleaded guilty to federal gun charges, however the sentencing for that case won&#8217;t occur until after the murder trial concludes.</p>
<p>Prosecutors on behalf of the state revealed they have two cooperating witnesses, with Troy Ave being one of them, according to reports. The other cooperating witness is a convicted drug dealer from Poughkeepsie named Malcom Kinyon.</p>
<p>Kinyon, who is facing 42 years in prison after he reportedly used his record label Outta They League as a front to sell large quantities of cocaine, was not a witness to the shooting in question, but did allegedly tell prosecutors that Taxstone had discussed the murder with him after the fatal shootout.</p>
<p>He was also charged with smuggling firearms into New York City and selling them to the artists on his record label.</p>
<p>Despite initially being charged with the murder, Troy later signed a cooperation agreement with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2017, with Taxstone being indicted shortly thereafter.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Troy Ave Discusses The Case In Podcast Interview Last Month, Claiming He Fired A Gun In Self-Defense</h3>
<p>Last month, Troy Ave discussed the case in an interview with Math Hoffa on his <em>My Expert Opinion</em> podcast, and claimed he fired a gun in self-defense, all of which was captured on CCTV footage.</p>
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<blockquote><p>“I mean you see a lot of n-ggas running, ducking for cover, and you know n-ggas that’s supposed to be standing around n-ggas they folded, I stood tall,” he said. “It’s like you come in here you bought to do work, and before you walk in the door there’s a hater there blocking your way, and the hater killed your friend and tried to kill you, and everything is self-defense.”</p></blockquote>
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<p>He went on to say &#8220;I&#8217;m not going out like that,&#8221; and that &#8220;I&#8217;m not running&#8230; I&#8217;m gonna take the gun and blow at you,&#8221; during his appearance on the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnKgCIAAyKA/?utm_source=ig_embed&;ig_rid=873283d2-b5ea-42fc-9cee-b1e163dae5ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>podcast</strong></a> last month.</p>
<blockquote><p>“I’m not going out like that. Like I told y’all, I’m with everything, n-gga. I’m not running…bullets in me. I’m gonna take the gun, I’m gonna beat you n**** and I’m gonna blow at you, but what the media shows is me shooting. I never denied that’s me. What I’m saying is I took that gun from a hater; I ain’t bring no guns in the club. That’s a fact.”</p></blockquote>
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<p>Ave added that “I really picked up my man body, n****. Like, I picked him up. All these n**** that was there…Maino was there, any n**** there, they didn’t help me pick up Banga’s body, they walked past.”</p>
<p>Sentencing will be decided after the conclusion of the murder trial, according to <em><a href="https://hiphopdx.com/news/taxstone-murder-trial-begins-troy-ave-testify" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>HipHopDX</strong></a></em>.</p>
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