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We hope Congress will pass similar legislation, because this is a nationwide problem.”Įric Nelson and Andrea Dennis, authors of “Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America” estimate that there has been At least 500 cases nationwide in which rap lyrics have been used as criminal evidence since the 1990s. Thank you, Governor Newsom, for setting the standard. “This legislation puts in place important safeguards that will help the courts hold attorneys accountable and prevent them from criminalizing black and brown artistic expression. “For too long, California prosecutors have used rap as a convenient way to introduce racial bias and confusion into the criminal justice process,” entertainment attorney and Songwriters co-founder of North America Dina LaPolt He said, according to Variety.

The rapper was in Los Angeles later disowned of charges.

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In court, prosecutors pulled lyrics from his song “Flex Free Style” As evidence that he killed a 24-year-old man. The Court of First Instance in this case treated rap as inherently more criminal than other artistic and musical forms,” friend summary Submitted by ACLU Read.īefore his untimely death, Drakeo the Ruler faced first degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder charges. “Despite the conventions of the genre, pit style rap enjoys the same constitutional protections as other forms of artistic expression. In Appeal of 2020 on behalf of the Knoxville rapper Christopher Bassettthe organization argued that rap lyrics are often taken out of context and, in Bassett’s case, completely irrelevant. This is why the use of song lyrics as evidence has been considered by some legal experts and advocates as a violation of the First Amendment and A way to enforce racial stereotypes.Īmerican Civil Liberties Union He said that nearly all cases using song lyrics as evidence involve black or Latino defendants. Hip-hop is known for having both literal and narrative lyrics Words are peremptory and exaggerated. The signing was also attended by representatives from the Recording Academy, the Black Music Action Coalition, and North American songwriters. The Artistic Expression Decriminalization Act, also known as AB 2799, aims to reduce the use of rap lyrics against music artists in California courts - seen in legal proceedings against The late Governor Dricoand Young Thug and Gunna.Īrtists including Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Too$hort, Ty Dolla$ign, YG, E-40, and Tyga were almost in attendance when Newsom signed the bill.

Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday signed a bill that advocates say will help protect artistic expression in hip-hop music.