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Judge rules rap lyrics can be used as evidence in hip-hop artist Young Thug's racketeering trial
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Leroy N. Soetoro
Nov 10, 2023, 2:17:30 PM11/10/23
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https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-rules-rap-lyrics-can-be-used-as-
evidence-in-hip-hop-artist-young-thugs-racketeering-trial/
ATLANTA (CN) — Rap lyrics can be used as evidence by prosecutors in the
upcoming racketeering trial against award winning hip-hop artist Young
Thug and others, a judge ruled Thursday.
During an hourslong hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors argued that the
lyrics were "admissions" of criminal activity committed by members of what
they claim to be an Atlanta street gang called "Young Slime Life."
“The question is not rap lyrics. The question is gang lyrics,” said
prosecutor Mike Carlson. “These are party admissions. They happen to come
in the form of lyrics.”
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, has been accused of being
the co-founder and leader of YSL, although the artist claims that the
acronym only applies to his record label, "Young Stoner Life."
The 32-year-old Grammy winning rapper has been in jail since May 2022
after being one of 28 people charged in the sweeping gang and racketeering
indictment.
Prosecutors contend that certain lyrics and music video scenes glorified
YSL’s alleged criminal activities, including fatal shootings of at least
three rival gang members, selling drugs and violence against police.
Defense attorneys fought to have the lyrics excluded from evidence,
arguing that the rap verses were protected forms of creative expression
and subject to interpretation by the listener.
“Rap is the only fictional art form treated this way,” Doug Weinstein told
the judge. The attorney represents defendant Demontre Kendrick, who
performs under the stage name Yak Gotti. “No other musical genre, no other
art is treated the same way.”
Weinstein said that the stage name his client uses represents a character
he portrays on screen and in performances and argued that the lyrics such
as "bodies on bodies" can have multiple meanings and interpretations.
"If you let it in, there is a high risk that the jury will misinterpret
that," Weinstein said.
The attorney gave several examples of music artists from other genres,
including Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, that never had their lyrics used
against them in court.
But prosecutors argued that is because those artists were never charged
with committing crimes expressed in their lyrics.
“We are aware that the Johnny Cash metaphor is here but no one’s ever come
up with … proof that Johnny Cash was ever accused of murdering a man in
Washoe County, Nevada,” Carlson, said, referring to the 1965 hit “Folsom
Prison Blues.”
“Had that happened, his lyrics would, in all likelihood, be used against
him.”
Despite the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court being largely
criticized by First Amendment advocates as prejudicial, Carlson argued
that free speech protections do not apply because the defendants are not
being prosecuted for the lyrics. Instead, he said the lyrics refer to the
criminal act or intent behind the charges.
One of the songs included in the state’s evidence is Young Thug’s 2018
track “Anybody” featuring Nicki Minaj, where he sings, “I never killed
anybody, but I got something to do with that body,” and later refers to
himself as “a general.”
During trial, prosecutors plan to argue that in the song, Williams is
admitting to being the leader of the purported gang and ordering to have
people killed.
Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville said there were 17 sets of lyrics
that he would preliminary admit as evidence, and that additional verses
may also be admitted if prosecutors can “lay the foundation” and tie them
directly to the crimes.
The trial against Williams and five others is set to begin Nov. 27 after a
grueling ten monthlong jury selection process. Some defendants also
charged in the case reached plea deals or were separated to be tried
later.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
evidence-in-hip-hop-artist-young-thugs-racketeering-trial/
ATLANTA (CN) — Rap lyrics can be used as evidence by prosecutors in the
upcoming racketeering trial against award winning hip-hop artist Young
Thug and others, a judge ruled Thursday.
During an hourslong hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors argued that the
lyrics were "admissions" of criminal activity committed by members of what
they claim to be an Atlanta street gang called "Young Slime Life."
“The question is not rap lyrics. The question is gang lyrics,” said
prosecutor Mike Carlson. “These are party admissions. They happen to come
in the form of lyrics.”
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, has been accused of being
the co-founder and leader of YSL, although the artist claims that the
acronym only applies to his record label, "Young Stoner Life."
The 32-year-old Grammy winning rapper has been in jail since May 2022
after being one of 28 people charged in the sweeping gang and racketeering
indictment.
Prosecutors contend that certain lyrics and music video scenes glorified
YSL’s alleged criminal activities, including fatal shootings of at least
three rival gang members, selling drugs and violence against police.
Defense attorneys fought to have the lyrics excluded from evidence,
arguing that the rap verses were protected forms of creative expression
and subject to interpretation by the listener.
“Rap is the only fictional art form treated this way,” Doug Weinstein told
the judge. The attorney represents defendant Demontre Kendrick, who
performs under the stage name Yak Gotti. “No other musical genre, no other
art is treated the same way.”
Weinstein said that the stage name his client uses represents a character
he portrays on screen and in performances and argued that the lyrics such
as "bodies on bodies" can have multiple meanings and interpretations.
"If you let it in, there is a high risk that the jury will misinterpret
that," Weinstein said.
The attorney gave several examples of music artists from other genres,
including Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, that never had their lyrics used
against them in court.
But prosecutors argued that is because those artists were never charged
with committing crimes expressed in their lyrics.
“We are aware that the Johnny Cash metaphor is here but no one’s ever come
up with … proof that Johnny Cash was ever accused of murdering a man in
Washoe County, Nevada,” Carlson, said, referring to the 1965 hit “Folsom
Prison Blues.”
“Had that happened, his lyrics would, in all likelihood, be used against
him.”
Despite the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court being largely
criticized by First Amendment advocates as prejudicial, Carlson argued
that free speech protections do not apply because the defendants are not
being prosecuted for the lyrics. Instead, he said the lyrics refer to the
criminal act or intent behind the charges.
One of the songs included in the state’s evidence is Young Thug’s 2018
track “Anybody” featuring Nicki Minaj, where he sings, “I never killed
anybody, but I got something to do with that body,” and later refers to
himself as “a general.”
During trial, prosecutors plan to argue that in the song, Williams is
admitting to being the leader of the purported gang and ordering to have
people killed.
Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville said there were 17 sets of lyrics
that he would preliminary admit as evidence, and that additional verses
may also be admitted if prosecutors can “lay the foundation” and tie them
directly to the crimes.
The trial against Williams and five others is set to begin Nov. 27 after a
grueling ten monthlong jury selection process. Some defendants also
charged in the case reached plea deals or were separated to be tried
later.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
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