A$AP ROCKY takes the stand and pleads with prosecutors

7:09 AM PT -- A$AP just made an emotional plea to the judges, "I have spent a month in Sweden. This is my 5th or 6th time here. I have seen the most beautiful architecture. And the not-so-nice things ... what I want is justice. I want my name to be cleared. Justice for all of us." 

Rocky said if he's found not guilty, he doesn't want money ... he can earn that back. TMZ broke the story ... the Swedish Government could be on the line to pay him millions for the time he's spent locked up. 

6:41 AM PT -- A$AP reacted to the text messages, saying he wasn't involved in the back-and-forth texts, and he said he posted a video because TMZ has posted a different one that did not show the aggressiveness of the alleged victims. The video we posted shows Rocky attacking the alleged victim. The video he posted is an earlier scene, showing the alleged victim striking Rocky's bodyguard with a set of headphones. 

6:36 AM PT -- Prosecutors just showed another message from Rocky's assistant saying, "I hope Rocky deleted all the videos on his phone and kept only the one." The message ... prosecutors believe Rocky hit the alleged victim with a bottle, recorded the attack and then deleted it.  This seems to be the centerpiece of the case -- whether Rocky went too far by hitting the alleged victim with a bottle.

6:33 AM PT -- Prosecutors are now asking Rocky about text messages from his assistant, saying "Harlem came out and smashed a bottle on a person." Prosecutors are insinuating "Harlem" is Rocky. As we said below, Rocky denies hitting anyone with a bottle.

Prosecutors are zeroing in on Rocky's phone, asking what he did with it after the incident.  Prosecutors want to know if he shot video that has not surfaced.

6:17 AM PT -- A$AP Rocky testified he "begged" the alleged victim and his accomplice to get away from him and his crew, and he believed the 2 were impossible to reason with because he thought they were high on drugs.

Rocky took the stand and admitted he and his crew "jumped" the alleged victim ... but only after they threw punches at his bodyguard.

The attorneys focused on a bottle A$AP was holding as he tried to stave the alleged victim away. He insisted, "I didn't break any bottles," but conceded his crew picked up bottles to "get them out of there." He also said, "You got to realize my life is very unique and particular. I've been stabbed in the face and my home has been robbed at gunpoint twice. That's why I have security." This was in response to why he picked up the bottle. 

Rocky said his bodyguard tried various "tactics" to get the 2 guys away, to no avail. He says his bodyguard was trying to protect him but insists he didn't "beat up the alleged victim." TMZ posted video where you see the bodyguard pick the alleged victim up by his neck.

A$AP said the 2 men appeared "fearless" as they confronted him. He admitted to shoving the alleged victim and said there was pushing and shoving. But, he made it clear ... one of the guys was "charging" him.

4:53 AM PT -- Sources familiar with the case tell TMZ ... Rocky's team has reevaluated based on the alleged victim's testimony and other evidence and now plan to call the rapper to the stand Thursday.

via TMZ