More state and federal legislators are supporting “Rap Music on Trial” laws across the country. Let us explain what that means …
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00:00Rap music on trial laws are getting more and more support from both state and federal legislators
00:05across the country. So what exactly are these laws and which states are supporting the legislation?
00:10Root can explain in less than 60 seconds. In the past, some prosecutors have relied on artists'
00:15rap lyrics as evidence to prove their guilt of different violent crimes. In recent years,
00:20however, many legislators and activists have made efforts to protect artists' freedom of speech and
00:25creative expression, arguing that using rap lyrics as a literal admission of guilt creates
00:30racial bias and stereotyping within a court case. Right now, Young Thug and Gunna are both facing
00:35organized crime charges, with Atlanta prosecutors pointing to their lyrics as evidence or admissions
00:41of guilt. Many activists argue artists of other genres who sing similar lyrics about violent crime
00:46are not treated in the same way, including Johnny Cash's I Shot a Man in Reno lyric and the song
00:51Folsom Prison Blues. So far, California and New York have made the most progress in passing rap
00:56music on trial laws.