300 Entertainment co-founder and CEO Kevin Liles has teamed up with Atlantic Records COO Julie Greenwald to launch a petition that aims to limit the use of rap lyrics in trials.
“Rap Music on Trial: Protect Black Art” aims to pass Federal and State legislation limiting the abilities of prosecutors to utilize “creative and artistic expression as evidence against defendants in criminal trials.”
The petition uses the current case against rappers Young Thugga, Gunna, and other members of Young Stoner Life Records as an example of “this shameful and un-American practice.”
The ongoing case alleges that the 50 plus charges — which include counts of “conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and participation in street gang activity” — are heavily based on the artists’ lyrics and that Fulton Country prosecutors are using their words as “overt evidence of conspiracy” and confessions, Hypebeast reported.
Liles and Greenwald have praised the New York State Senate for passing Senate Bill S7527, which aims “to protect freedom of speech and artistic expression in New York State. This bill effectuates the enhanced free speech protections provided by the New York State Constitution, ensuring that criminal defendants are tried based upon evidence of criminal conduct, not the provocative nature of their artistic works and tastes.”
The “Rap Music on Trial: Protect Black Art” petition can be viewed at change.org.
