Why are courts using rap lyrics to criminalize artists of color?

Basic Black Podcast

This week on Basic Black we will discuss rap lyrics used in court cases as evidence, the bias toward hip hop and rap --the biggest music genre, and how do you separate the art/artistic expression from the artist. But rap artists have ended up charged and jailed — singled out by prosecutors who have claimed their lyrics reveal criminal intent. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently passed a bill saying that lyrics cannot be used in court cases. There is also a federal bill, the RAP Act, looking to do the same nationally. Why is their freedom of speech not protected? And will this criminalizing of rap influence other kinds of creative expression?

Guest Panelists:

Renée Graham, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist, The Boston Globe’s op-ed page

Michael P. Jeffries, Ph.D., Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs, Wellesley College. He is also the author of, “Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop.”

Danielle Scott aka “Queen D.” MC, vocalist, songwriter, producer, PhD candidate at Brown University AND Professor, Hip-Hop Jazz Ensemble, Berklee College of Music

Traci Griffith, Director, Racial Justice Program, A-C-L-U of Massachusetts (via remote)

Callie Crossley hosts.