So when you actually introduce the lyrics that the rapper has written and use those lyrics as evidence against them, that seals the deal. Merely saying that someone is a rapper evokes negative perceptions and brings out prejudices. Those are the kinds of things that rappers talk about in their raps. Johnson told The Los Angeles Times that "People make the connection between a rapper and someone who is in a gang, a drug dealer, someone who is violent. Hank Johnson of Georgia and Jamaal Bowman of New York. The California legislation is similar to a federal bill called the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, introduced in the House this summer by Reps. Verse It been eleven years, I held it in and I ain't shd a tear I had a story I ain't never shar Thought it was normal 'cause they left us here This for the voices they will never hear Walkin'. We hope Congress will pass similar legislation, as this is a nationwide problem," she added.Įrik Nielson and Andrea Dennis, authors of the book "Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America," estimate that there have been at least 500 cases nationally in which rap lyrics have been used as criminal evidence since the 1990s. "This legislation sets up important guardrails that will help courts hold prosecutors accountable and prevent them from criminalizing Black and Brown artistic expression. "For too long, prosecutors in California have used rap lyrics as a convenient way to inject racial bias and confusion into the criminal justice process," entertainment attorney and co-founder of Songwriters of North America, Dina LaPolt, said, according to Variety. The LA rapper was later acquitted of the charges. In court, prosecutors pulled lyrics from his song "Flex Freestyle" as evidence he killed a 24-year-old man. Killer Mike August 30, 2022īefore his untimely death, Drakeo the Ruler faced first-degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder charges. #Meek mill freestyle lyrics trial#The trial court in this case treated rap music as inherently more incriminating than other artistic and musical forms," the amicus brief filed by the ACLU read. "Notwithstanding the conventions of the genre, drill-style rap enjoys the same constitutional protection as other forms of artistic expression. In a 2020 appeal on behalf of Knoxville rapper Christopher Bassett, the organization argued that rap lyrics are often taken out of context, and in Bassett's case, completely irrelevant. The American Civil Liberties Union said almost all cases that use lyrics as evidence involve Black or Latino defendants.
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