Evidence or Art - a. The Usage of Rap Lyrics in Court In the recent trial of rapper Young Thug, the use of his lyrics as potential evidence has reignited the ongoing debate of whether lyrical content should be admissible in court. This dilemma goes back to the early 1990s when rap lyrics were first introduced as evidence in criminal trials. One of the first significant occurrences was in 1994 during the case of the famous rapper Tupac Shakur, whose lyrics were used by prosecutors to argue his involvement in a shooting. This practice was seen again in the 2001 trial of rapper C-Murder, where his lyrics were cited as evidence to prove him guilty in a murder case. These cases and similar ones throughout history have initiated discussions about …show more content…
In the New York Times article, Rap Lyrics on Trial, experts Erik Nielson and Charis E. Kubrin discuss whether rap lyrics should be allowed as evidence in court through the lens of the case of Vonte Skinner. It explains how Skinner's violent lyrics were used against him in court, even though they were written before the crime and did not mention it specifically. The article argues that rap lyrics are typically misinterpreted or twisted by prosecutors and the jury, which causes unfair trials, especially for young men of color. It also presents research showing that exposure to gangsta rap lyrics can bias a jury against defendants, similar to the study of Professor Carrie Fried in the ACLU podcast. Co-author Erik Nielson, a speaker on the same podcast, calls for a reevaluation of using rap lyrics as evidence, highlighting the importance of protecting artistic expression and guaranteeing fair trials. On the opposite side of the dilemma, counterarguments support the use of lyrics as evidence in court. In an article from The Guardian, Ben Beaumont-Thomas reports on rapper Yung Thug’s being admitted as evidence against him in the trial proceedings of the RICO charges against him. Specifically mentioned are the views of prosecutors Mike Carlson and Simone Hylton,