Coverage dated November 8, 2023 to November 9, 2023
Judge rules rap lyrics can be used as evidence in hip-hop artist Young Thug’s racketeering trial
Headline from Courthouse News Service
While defense attorneys argued that lyrics are forms of protected free speech and should be excluded from the upcoming trial, Atlanta prosecutors told the judge they were admissions of gang activity.
Courthouse News Service's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.
The judge presiding over the trial of rapper Young Thug ruled that rap lyrics can be admitted by prosecutors as evidence in this case on a conditional basis.
A judge ruled on Thursday that at least 17 specific sets of lines from the Atlanta rapper and his collaborators could be used by prosecutors in their gang conspiracy case.
When rapper Young Thug goes to trial later this month on gang and racketeering charges, prosecutors will be allowed to use rap lyrics as evidence against him, a judge ruled Thursday.
While defense attorneys argued that lyrics are forms of protected free speech and should be excluded from the upcoming trial, Atlanta prosecutors told the judge they were admissions of gang activity.
Judge says he isn’t attacking free speech, but practice of using lyrics as evidence has been widely denounced by major record labels and stars including Jay-Z
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Judge rules rap lyrics can be used as evidence in hip-hop artist Young Thug’s racketeering trial | Since Then
