The Wall Street Journal - Rappers Young Thug and Gunna are behind bars in Atlanta on gang-related ch

Rappers Young Thug and Gunna are behind bars in Atlanta on gang-related charges after prosecutors used their own lyrics against them as evidence. Now the music industry is speaking out, arguing that rap musicians are being held to a different standard than other artists when it comes to the use of lyrics in court.⁠⁠A broad coalition led by Warner Music Group—the third-biggest music conglomerate and parent of the rappers’ distributor, 300 Entertainment—placed an open letter in the New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday. It urges prosecutors as well as federal and state legislators to limit the use of rap lyrics as evidence on the grounds that it unfairly prejudices juries against defendants.⁠⁠Signatories include rival music conglomerates Universal Music Group and Sony Music Group: concert-promotion giants Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents: and platforms like Spotify and TikTok. A lengthy list of artists such as Drake, Coldplay and Camila Cabello also signed the letter.⁠⁠Young Thug, one of the most influential rappers of the past decade, and Gunna were indicted in May on racketeering charges, with prosecutors calling their “YSL” collective a “criminal street gang.” The indictment, which cites lyrics and social-media posts, alleges that members of the collective were involved in murder, armed robbery, drug dealing and other crimes. One Young Thug lyric included in the indictment is: “I’m prepared to take them down.” The two rappers, who deny the charges, have been denied bond and are awaiting a trial.⁠⁠Read more at the link in our bio.⁠⁠Photo: Prince Williams/Getty Images
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