Rap lyrics used in court cases have become a lightning rod for debate throughout the judicial system in America. Killer Mike sat down with Bronx rapper Kemba to delve into the criminalization of lyrics in hip-hop for his As We Speak: Rap Music On Trial documentary, which premieres on Paramount+ on Tuesday (February 27).
“They will not say that art is a representation of imagination and thought. They'll say it's you. “You're a killer, Mike! And we'll lock your a– up.' It's a shame we live in a country where a white woman who killed her husband can write an article called How to [Murder] Your husband and this article is not allowed to be used,” the Run the Jewels rapper says in the exclusive clip shared with Advertising sign.
“The prosecutor had to find another way to convict her. But I can say a few random sts in a song and the prosecutor can awkwardly out of rhythm say that to a judge like they know what the fk I'm talking about or have some kind of experience. I'm talking about.”
The creepy Experimental rap music debuted at the Sundance Film festival in January, and the documentary carries its momentum into Parmount+ national release on Tuesday.
Kemba talks to experts from a variety of fields to attack the use of lyrics tested through conversations with rappers like Killer Mike, as well as academics, politicians, legal experts and other music industry figures.
Young Thug is one of the most recent examples of an artist who has had his lyrics against him in the courtroom. Lyrics from his catalog were heard by the prosecution as part of the ongoing YSL RICO trial.
Watch the clip below and stream it As We Speak: Rap Music On Trial documentary starting Tuesday (February 26) on Paramount+.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/killer-mike-criminalization-rap-lyrics-rap-music-on-trial-documentary-1235615033/
