According to Jay-Z, rap lyrics should no longer be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. Stars like Meek Mill and Kelly Rowland are also among the prominent supporters of a bill calling for a change in the law in the US state of New York.
The paper, titled “Rap Music on Trial,” was published by Senators Brad Hoylman and Jamaal Bailey in November last year to prevent prosecutors from using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials in the future as long as it is no clear and convincing evidence that the act is directly related to the text.
The senators are concerned with strengthening freedom of expression in the state. “Admitting art as criminal evidence only serves to undermine that fundamental right, and the use of rap and hip-hop lyrics in particular is symbolic of the systemic racism that permeates our criminal justice system,” Senator Bailey said.
Now the two have been able to find some prominent supporters. Jay-Z’s attorney said the law, should it actually become law in New York, could send a big signal to other US states.
The use of song lyrics as evidence in criminal proceedings has been a common practice to date. In a lawsuit against US rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, for example, prosecutors tried to use the rapper’s texts as evidence to provide context relating to certain disputes.
This legal practice is also common in the UK. Law professor Abenaa Owusu-Bempah from the London School of Economics recently examined 30 appeal verdicts between 2005 and 2020 and found that prosecutors would use text and video to reflect longstanding stereotypes about Black men as criminals. Rap music is also often presented in court as ‘bad evidence of character’, the professor said.
The law has meanwhile cleared a first hurdle in the legislative process in New York State. In the meantime, other influential supporters have been found in Fat Joe, Yo Gotti and Robin Thicke.