Meek Mill has been actively involved in initiatives to fight against the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials. So it’s no surprise that the Philly rhymer has expressed worry over the fact that Young Thug’s lyrics will be used as evidence in his ongoing RICO trial.
The judge presiding over the case recently ruled that prosecutors will be allowed to present Thugger’s work as part of their case.
Earlier this week, Judge Ural Glanville said: “I’m conditionally admitting those pending lyrics, subject to a foundation that is properly laid by the state or the proponent that seeks to admit that evidence.”
On Friday (November 10), Meek took to Twitter to share his thoughts regarding this development, writing: “Locking us for rapping got me scared to do a interview free Jeff free lucci.”
Locking us for rapping got me scared to do a interview free Jeff free lucci
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) November 10, 2023
Since the summer, the Atlanta City Council has been working toward restricting the use of lyrics in criminal cases, which has been a recurring practice in court proceedings that involve rappers.
The ongoing YSL RICO trial once again brought attention to prosecutors leveraging Hip Hop songs to incriminate artists. To that point, District 12 council member Antonio Lewis passed a resolution in July to “ensure fair and just legal proceedings.”
Regarding the initiative, Lewis said: “Our resolution is a significant step toward rectifying an issue that has disproportionately affected individuals within marginalized communities. We must protect the freedom of artistic expression while ensuring that evidence used in criminal trials is relevant, reliable, and does not perpetuate bias.
“By urging the Georgia General Assembly to address this matter, we are fostering a more equitable and just criminal justice system for all.”
Lewis and his supporters have pointed out that rap lyrics are often misrepresented in court, and propose that they shouldn’t be used as evidence.