Rap Lyrics Can Be Used Against Young Thug During Trial, Judge Rules

The judge presiding over the trial of rapper Young Thug ruled that his lyrics could be used against him in court.

Specifically, prosecutors can use 17 sets of lyrics performed by Young Thug and other co-defendants in their upcoming case in Atlanta.

“I’m conditionally admitting those pending lyrics, depending upon – or subject to a foundation that is properly laid by the state or the proponent that seeks to admit that evidence,” Judge Ural Glanville said.

Glanville also said that if prosecutors want to use additional lyrics as part of their evidence, they can be submitted for the judge’s review before the beginning of the trial. 

“I would just ask the state or just remind the state if any other lyrics are sought to be admitted that I’d have to go through this same analysis,” Glanville continued. 

Glanville’s decision comes a day after attorneys for Young Thug and two other co-defendants argued that using his lyrics violates the artist’s right to freedom of speech and that they are a form of artistic expression and shouldn’t be used as evidence.

“The lyrics are being used to prove the nature of YSL as a racketeering enterprise, the expectations of YSL as a criminal street gang. We’ve got party admissions for even the offense of murder here; this is evidentiary use,” prosecutor Mike Carlson said. 

Prosecutors in the case argue that the lyrics are relevant to the alleged crimes that they carried out. 

The usage of lyrics in a trial has been criticized by many free speech groups and stars such as Jay-Z and Coldplay.

Jay-Z, alongside fellow rapper Meek Mill, was among those in favor of a proposed change in New York state law that would prevent lyrics from being used as evidence in court in 2022. California also banned the use of lyrics as evidence in state trials. 

Born Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Young Thug’s trial is set to begin on November 27.

The rapper released an album in jail titled Business Is Business in June, which reached No. 2 on the U.S. charts.