New York City’s Kidd Creole trial has started. His lawyer told a jury that it was self defense after he stabbed a homeless man in 2017 to death.

The artist, who was a founding member Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five is being charged with murder. He appeared in court Friday at a Manhattan criminal court.

Prosecutors claimed that Nathaniel Glover (real name: Nathaniel Glover) stabbed John Jolly twice in his chest with a steak knives after becoming angry because he believed Jolly was gay. Jolly also hit on him. Glover was on his way to midtown Manhattan’s maintenance job at midnight on Aug. 1, 2017. Jolly then asked him “What’s the matter?” Authorities said.

“Ladies, gentlemen, this New York City. It’s twelve o’clock in the evening. Scottie Celestin, Glover’s lawyer, said to the jury, “Who’s saying “What’s up?” to you with good intentions?” His fear for his own life was understandable.

Celestin said Jolly also died from a dose sedative benzodiazepine given at a hospital. This was not the stab wounds.

Mark Dahl, Assistant District Attorney, told the jury that Glover admitted to police that he didn’t stab Jolly out of self-defense but because he believed Jolly was hitting on his.

Dahl stated that the defendant admitted to taking out a knife from his kitchen and repeatedly thrusting it into a man on the street. He then killed him. “Was there any thing that could stop him running away from Mr. Jolly?” No.”

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five are best known for their 1982 rap song “The Message”. They were the first rap group to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.