Taifha Natalee Alexander, CRT forward project director at UCLA School of Law Critical Race Studies Program. Courtesy photo Hip-hop on Trial: When Can Rappers' Lyrics Be Used as Evidence in a Criminal Case?
Lawyers have used rappers' lyrics as evidence in criminal cases since shortly after the rise of gangsta rap in the late 1980s.
September 29, 2023 at 02:14 PM
6 minute read
Expert Opinion
When police arrested Nevada rapper Kenjuan McDaniel on a murder charge in August 2023, they cited a music video he posted on YouTube that they say includes details of a 2021 killing that had not been made public.
McDaniel, who uses the social media handle TheBiggestFinn4800, had previously been considered a person of interest in the case. His lyrics included: "Parked the car / double back on feet / the smartest way to slide / drove in / double lock yo man / make sure you get yo bod'."
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