New York Senate passes new laws to restrict the use of rap lyrics in criminal proceedings
completemusicupdate.comNew laws that would restrict when prosecutors can cite rap lyrics in criminal proceedings were passed by the Senate of New York State yesterday, just a week after supposedly incriminating lyrics were included in legal papers alongside the prosecution of Young Thug and Gunna.
There is now one more stage in the process before these new rules become law in New York State.The proposed new rules are contained in Senate Bill S7527, sometimes dubbed the ‘rap on trial’ bill.
Put forward late last year by senators Jamaal Bailey and Brad Hoylman, the proposals have been backed by the likes of Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Killer Mike and Fat Joe.The aim is to ensure that where defendants in a criminal case also make music – and especially rap music – there are restrictions on presenting those defendants’ lyrics as evidence.
Supporters of the bill say that when lyrics are used by prosecutors in criminal cases, they often add very little substance to the case being argued, but can be impactful on juries.
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