A group of musical artists including Jay-Z and Meek Mill on Wednesday sent a letter urging New York legislators to pass legislation that would change the rules of evidence to make a defendant’s “creative expression,” including rap lyrics, inadmissible at trial.

Under the “Rap Music on Trial” bill, the proffering party would have to overcome the presumption of inadmissibility by proving that the lyrics or other material were meant to be literal, are relevant to a disputed issue of fact and have “a strong factual nexus … to the specific facts of the crime alleged.”

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