Young Thug’s lyrics will be used as evidence during the YSL RICO trial
Things are looking bad for Young Thug, who is facing trial in the YSL RICO case.
A Georgia judge has ruled that Thugger’s song lyrics can be used as evidence in his current case.
The judge ruled that prosecutors will be able to use Young Thug and other YSL members’ lyrics as evidence against him and the other defendants, but clarified that this is a conditional admission for the prosecutors, who will have to justify the use of these texts.
The rapper’s defense has objected by arguing that the use of lyrics or any other art against Thug or other defendants in the case would be a constitutional violation, both in the federal sense and at the state level.
For years there has been a debate in the USA about the use of rap songs in cases in which their authors are accused and about the fact that music and what is said in the songs is not necessarily the mirror of what a person actually did. Several artists, including Jay-Z.
In fact, in January 2022, several exponents of the rap scene, including Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland, Robin Thicke and Fat Joe, joined together to propose a reform of New York law with the aim of repealing the use of the lyrics of rappers’ songs as evidence in criminal trials involving them.
As reported by The Guardianin the letter the numerous artists invited legislators to take their arguments into consideration and give due weight to the protection of freedom of expression. A priority that pushed them to give public support to Rap Music on Trial, a bill in which, last November, US senators Brad Hoylman and Jamaal Bailey suggested that prosecutors not cite the songs except when there is clear and incontrovertible link between the crime under investigation and the musical piece. «The right to free speech is enshrined in both the federal and national constitutions», explained Bailey. «Exploring art to reduce it to criminal evidence only serves to call all this into question. Furthermore, the fact that in most cases only rap and hip hop lyrics are subjected to such treatment is emblematic of how systemic racism has permeated our justice system». Illustrated in the Senate at the beginning of this week, the proposal has passed the first step of the process. «It was time», said Alex Shapiro, Jay Z’s lawyer in an interview with Rolling Stone. «Correcting this law does not only mean thinking about the events on which it has direct consequences but also sending a message of progress to the world. We hope to be able to set an example that can be replicated elsewhere».
Let’s hope that this example can be replicated in Georgia, that the scene will move together to prevent Young Thug’s lyrics from being used as evidence against him.
