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Crimes for rhymes?

Crimes for rhymes?

The recording industry and California lawmakers are pushing to put an end to the practice of prosecutors using rap lyrics about crimes as evidence of actual crimes.

Headlines From The Times · Gustavo Arellano, Kinsee Morlan, Mario Diaz, Shani O. Hilton, Madalyn Amato, David Toledo, Denise Guerra, Jazmín Aguilera, Heba Elorbany, Shannon Lin, Kasia Broussalian, Mike Heflin, Mark Nieto, Ashlea Brown

September 23, 202221m 46sExplicit

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Show Notes

There are dozens if not hundreds of cases involving prosecutors using rap lyrics that are about crimes as evidence of actual crimes, even when there was no other credible evidence. But finally, the recording industry and California lawmakers are pushing to put an end to the practice.

Today, we talk about groundbreaking legislation that could limit how music is used as evidence in criminal court. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times columnist Erika D. Smith

More reading:

Column: America loves rap, not Black people. Don’t be fooled because this bill protects lyrics

Rapper ‘Tiny Doo’ and college student arrested under controversial gang law get day in court against police

San Diego council approves $1.5M payout to two men jailed under controversial gang law

Topics

black lives mattercriminal justicejustice systemcrimehip hoprapblack rightsrecording industry