RAP law prohibits lyrics from being used as evidence in criminal cases

bill, dubbed Restoration Art Protection Actis intended to limit the extent to which an artist’s “creative or artistic expression” is admissible against a defendant.

The bill states, “Except as provided in subsection (b), evidence of a defendant’s creative or artistic expression, whether original or derivative, shall not be such in a criminal case. unacceptable against the defendant,” it said.

A subsection contains exceptions where lyrics may be admissible if it is determined that the defendant “intended the literal meaning.” When necessary to determine the facts of a case, or when “the representation has clear probative value not provided by other admissible evidence.”

Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the bill targets free speech issues.

“Unless Congress takes further action, the freedom of speech and artistic expression that exists in music will continue to be suppressed until the voices behind protected speech are silenced,” Johnson said in a statement. Expression will be cooled.

Another co-sponsor of the bill, New York Democratic Rep. Jamal Bowman, said in the same statement that a 17-year-old boy was serving a life sentence after being found guilty of part of the evidence in the lyrics. He said he was “deeply moved” by the story and “continues to pursue his art in the face of our corpse system that would otherwise stifle black art.”

“We cannot imprison talented artists who have expressed their experiences or stifle their creativity,” Bowman said.

Leaders and members of music industry groups such as Atlantic Records, SAG-AFTRA, Universal Music Group and Black Music Action Coalition have voiced their support for the bill.

CNN previously reported Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug’s lyrics have been cited as evidence in 56 widespread gang indictments, fueling debate over whether the lyrics are protected by free speech.

CNN’s Shawna Mizelle contributed to this report.

Source: www.cnn.com

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