Following the news of an Atlanta judge allowing lyrics to be used in the YSL RICO case, Killer Mike has shared his opinion on the matter.
In a post shared on his Instagram Stories, he explained what he feels could be on the way after this ruling.
“This decision scares me,” Mike wrote. “This threatens all Americans’ 1st Amendment rights in my opinion. Please read #RapOnTrial.”
The rapper referenced the 2019 book Rap On Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America, which is an exposé about the use of rap lyrics as criminal evidence to convict and incarcerate young men of color.
The decision to use Young Thug’s lyrics in the trial comes after an hours long hearing held in an Atlanta court. Judge Ural Glanville listened to arguments from both sides regarding the use of lyrics in the courtroom.
“They are targeting the right to free speech, and that’s wrong,” Young Thug’s attorney Brian Steel said. “They are saying that just because he his singing about it, he is now part of a crime.”
However, Judge Glanville wasn’t receptive to the defense’s arguments.