Lawmakers in New York have introduced a bill where prosecutors are not allowed to use music lyrics as evidence against rap artists in the courtroom.
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The bill, titled “rap music on trial”, was introduced by Sen. Bran Hoylman and Sen. Jamaal Bailey of New York City on Wednesday to the Senate. According to NBC New York, the bill comes two years after Tekashi 6ix9ine was sentenced to two years in prison for multiple offenses which include racketeering and drug trafficking. They argued that the rapper’s lyrics were used to help the prosecutors link his affiliation with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.
Hoylman said in the following statement: “Art is creative expression, not a blueprint of criminal plans. Yet we’ve seen prosecutors in New York and across the country try to use rap music lyrics as evidence in criminal cases, a practice upheld this year by a Maryland court,”
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If the bill is approved, it requires prosecutors to provide supporting evidence to prove that rap lyrics have played a role in certain cases.
“The admission of art as criminal evidence only serves to erode this fundamental right, and the use of rap and hip-hop lyrics in particular is emblematic of the systemic racism that permeates our criminal justice system.” Sen. Bailey said in a follow up statement.