Jay-Z & Others Push To Limit Use Of Rap Lyrics In Criminal Cases
Jay-Z, Meek Mill & other artists signed a letter urging New York lawmakers to pass a legislation that would prevent prosecutors from using fictional rap lyrics in court.
The legislation they are working to pass is Senate Bill S7527, known as “Rap Music on Trial,” and it would limit using an artists’ music against them during a trial. The bill was introduced in November and requires prosecutors to prove the lyrics of a song is true and related to the case. In many previous cases, prosecutors would take lyrics from songs unrelated to the case to paint a picture of the artist on trial and sway the jury. This practice is seen as a limit on “creative expression.” The letter was also signed by Killer Mike, Fat Joe, Robin Thicke and others.
