The Restoring Artistic Protection Act (RAP Act), aimed at quelling the use of rap lyrics as permissible evidence in court, was introduced inΒ the United States Congress on Wednesday, by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY).
Per Variety,the bill would add aΒ presumption toΒ the Federal Rules of Evidence laws in order to βlimit the admissibility of evidence of a defendantβs creative or artistic expression against such defendant in aΒ criminal proceeding, and for other purposes.β
βFreddy Mercury did not confess to having βjust killed a manβ by putting βa gun against his headβ and ββpulling the trigger,β a release announcing the proposed legislation read. βBob Marley did not confess to having shot a sheriff. And Johnny Cash did not confess to shooting βa man in Reno, just to watch him die.ββ
Rep. Bowman added that rap music in particular needs to be protected.
βRap, Hip Hop and every lyrical musical piece is a beautiful form of art and expression that must be protected,β he said. βOur judicial system disparately criminalizes Black and brown lives, including Black and brown creativity.β
He continued, βEvidence shows when juries believe lyrics to be rap lyrics, thereβs a tendency to presume itβs a confession, whereas lyrics for other genres of music are understood to be art, not factual reporting. This act would ensure that our evidentiary standards protect the First Amendment right to freedom of expression. We cannot imprison our talented artists for expressing their experiences nor will we let their creativity be suppressed.β
The RAP Act comes after the New York Senate passed the βRap Music on Trialβ bill back in May, which requires lyrics to be proved in a βliteralβ sense rather than in a scenario that is βfigurative or fictionalβ in order for them to be considered viable evidence. The bill was widely supported by various music industry figures including Jay-Z, Killer Mike, Fat Joe and Meek Mill.
Meek also echoed his support for the RAPΒ Act, taking to Twitter on Wednesday to share aΒ BillboardΒ reportΒ on the legislation.
The RAP Act also arrives as prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia aim to use rap lyrics against Young Thug and GunnaΒ to prove that their Young Slime Life collective was a βcriminal street gangβ responsible for numerousΒ violent crimes in Atlanta. Both Thugga and Gunna face racketeering chargesΒ along withΒ 26 of their fellow YSLΒ label mates, and are currently behind bars awaiting trial.Β
Prosecutors will partially rely on nine Young Thug songs to help connect him to the alleged crimes, and previously claimedΒ that lyrics such as, βItβs all mob business, we know to kill the biggest cat of all kittens,β prove he had βan overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.β