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Why are rap lyrics being used in courts? - The Face
The short answer is no. Not by a long stretch. And the issue is only becoming more prominent. As far back as 2008, during the trial of rapper Vonte Skinner over a shooting that occurred in 2005, prosecutors read out 13 pages of Skinner's violent lyrics to the jury. All of these lyrics had been written long before the shooting had occurred and none of them mentioned details of the crime or victim involved in the case being tried. Skinner was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Four years later, his conviction was overturned. When overturning the conviction, the New Jersey Supreme Court was clear in stating that the lyrics should never have been allowed to be presented as evidence in the trial. Despite the controversy that Skinner's case caused – and the clear ruling from the Supreme Court – the practice of using rap lyrics as evidence in court has only increased. Prior to Young Thug's ...
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