Up and coming New York rapper Bobby Shmurda pleaded not guilty to a number of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, when he appeared in front of Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday.

First reported by XXL, the 20 year old stood alongside the other twelve members of his GS9 crew. Collectively, they have been charged with a total 69 offences, ranging from murder, attempted murder, assault, and a litany of drug and gun-related charges. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Bobby Shmurda Hot Boy
Cover art for Bobby Shmurda's Top 10 single 'Hot Boy'

His fellow crew member and Epic Records label mate Rowdy Rebel was accused of conspiracy, attempted murder, attempted assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon. Bail for both men was set at $2 million, which the group’s lawyer described as “excessive” and “extremely unfair.”

Epic signed both Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel in 2014, and Shmurda found chart success in the summer, scoring a number 6 hit with ‘Hot Boy’, re-titled for commercial airplay from ‘Hot N***a’. Its ‘shmoney dance’ in the music video caused the song to go viral with over seven million views.

Shmurda, real name Ackquille Pollard, was arrested on outside the Quad studios in Manhattan in the early hours of December 17th. It is believed that he was working on material for his debut album, following an EP called Shmurda She Wrote released in 2014.

It was the latest in a string of run-ins with the law - in June, he was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, and later released on a $10,000 bail. He also pleaded not guilty to a marijuana possession charge in October.

The GS9 crew will next appear in court on April 22nd. If found guilty, Bobby Shmurda faces a potential 25 years in jail.

More: Rap star Bobby Shmurda arrested outside New York studio