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    8Oct, 2022
    Congress To Review RAP Act Barring Use of Lyrics In Court

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    Young Thug RICO Mugshot

    Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department

    The movement to prohibit the usage of rap lyrics in criminal cases by prosecutors has now reached the federal level, as a new bill with that aim has been introduced in the United States Congress.

    On Wednesday (July 27th), the RAP Act was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives by Democratic Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). The Restoring Artistic Protection Act looks to protect artists from the wrongful usage of their lyrics against them in civil and criminal court cases. Representative Johnson shared the news through his Twitter account.

    “Freedom of speech is the constitutional foundation the framers thought necessary to enable a new and free society to craft not only its own destiny through commerce and innovations, but through culture, expression, and art,” said Rep. Johnson in the official

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    7Oct, 2022
    Lil Baby Says “Only God Can Judge Me” Amid Rumors of RICO Charges

    In Drake’s new hit “Jimmy Crooks” he confidently raps, “H*** say I’m suave, but I can’t get RICO’d”…But can Atlanta rapper Lil Baby say the same?

    Lil Baby 25th Birthday In Atlanta

    Source: Prince Williams / Prince Williams

    Many of Lil Baby’s fans are speculating that he may be the next to be hit with a RICO charge after the Fulton County district attorney announced there would be more high-profile cases before summer’s end. This announcement came just two months after Young Thug, Gunna and countless YSL associates were arrested on racketeering charges. DA Fani T. Willis stated there would be at least two more over the next 60 days.

    I know this has to have quite a few rappers shaking in their bulky Balenciaga boots.

    Willis dropped no hints as to what individuals would be targeted but everyone seems to be pointing the finger at Jayda’s old boo, Lil Baby and his label 4PL (4

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    3Oct, 2022
    Bill Meant to Ban Lyrics From Being Used as Evidence Brought to Congress

    The Restoring Artistic Protection Act (RAP Act), aimed at quelling the use of rap lyrics as permissible evidence in court, was introduced in the United States Congress on Wednesday, by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY).

    Per Variety, the bill would add a presumption to the Federal Rules of Evidence laws in order to “limit the admissibility of evidence of a defendant’s creative or artistic expression against such defendant in a criminal proceeding, and for other purposes.”

    “Freddy Mercury did not confess to having ‘just killed a man’ by putting ‘a gun against his head’ and ‘’pulling the trigger,” a release announcing the proposed legislation read. “Bob Marley did not confess to having shot a sheriff. And Johnny Cash did not confess to shooting ‘a man in Reno, just to watch him die.’”

    Rep. Bowman added that rap music in particular needs to be protected.

    “Rap, Hip Hop

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    30Sep, 2022
    ‘RAP Act’ Would Bar Prosecutors From Using Song Lyrics as Evidence

    Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Hank Johnson (D-GA) are proposing a bill in the House that would protect music artists’ lyrics from being legally used against them. The Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act will prohibit prosecutors in criminal cases and lawyers in civil cases to use song lyrics as evidence against the artist.

    ‘Our judicial system disparately criminalizes Black and brown lives, including Black and brown creativity,’ Bowman said in a statement. ‘We cannot imprison our talented artists for expressing their experiences nor will we let their creativity be suppressed.’

    The bill comes a few months after popular rappers Gunna and Young Thug, as well as several other individuals associated with Young Thug’s YSL brand, were indicted on gang-related RICO charges in May 2022. Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, where the indictments were based, have used the artists’ rap lyrics as evidence in their cases.

    Multiple states have explored

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    4Sep, 2022
    From Rolling Loud Miami: Hendrix Predicts The Future | Arts

    The second night of Rolling Loud began with a prediction from Future: “This might be one of the craziest Rolling Louds I have ever been a part of.” Indeed, the rapper would go on to headline an unforgettable night in Sky-ami — and his performance would single-handedly change the course of the many more to come.

    Future steps out on the Rolling Loud stage with a denim bucket hat.

    The festival’s energy went through the roof as soon as Future’s set began. The Atlanta rapper, who also calls himself Future Hendrix, dove right into the heat of his discography with “Stick Talk.” “Let me see if Miami in the building,” DJ and hype man DJ ESCO exclaimed in an effort to excite the crowd, getting them ready for bops like “Bugatti” and “Me or Sum” from Florida-natives Ace Hood and Nardo Wick, respectively. For someone who has been performing on stage for more than ten years, Future wasn’t slacking in the entertainment department.

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