Credit: edwardolive/Adobe Stock Rhyme and Reason: The Legal and Ethical Challenges of Using Rap Lyrics as Evidence
"The portrayal of rap lyrics as literal expressions of criminal intent ignores the longstanding tradition of adopting personas, exaggeration, and hyperbole for artistic effect," writes the NJLJ Young Lawyers Advisory Board.
July 09, 2024 at 10:00 AM
5 minute read
Evidence
The use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal prosecutions has been a contentious issue for decades, stirring debates over free speech, artistic expression, and fair trial rights. This practice, dating back to at least the 1990s, has seen prosecutors cite lyrics from rap songs to bolster cases against artists, often in ways that critics argue are prejudicial and misrepresentative.
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