How Rap Lyrics Are Landing Rappers In Jail | Genius News

When a criminal suspect is taken into police custody, their Miranda Rights give them “the right to remain silent,” with the warning that anything said “can and will be used against you in a court of law.” For many rappers, prosecutors are going a step further and citing their lyrics to build cases against them in court. Not only are rap songs increasingly being presented as evidence during criminal trials, they’re also being used in indictments and sentencing hearings.
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[@kingrei9014]

*When Your Bars Are So Hard You End Up Behind Them...*

[@Auxz]

MegaFlame Dinero lmao

[@sandilemashinini4748]

so underrated

[@gerardofierros4165]

Give this man some likes 😂

[@waleed-un3wk]

Lol

[@ulyssesrolle4637]

Hold this W

[@TyKOmain]

Like when Bobby shmurda snitched on himself and the crew

[@yarxyz6189]

shits fire though

[@matthewgray7195]

@@yarxyz6189 that song kept me warm thru the winter of '14

[@emir2591]

Fire tho

[@bigben228]

didnt really snitch on himself, NYPD kept eyes on them for a while. They waited till they were in the spotlight to snatch em up

[@jeremyyu4157]

osiris zapata but he really innocent tho

[@way2chilly]

NO BOBBY SHMURDA WTF ?!

[@abdul1999x]

Was waiting on him too.🤦🏽‍♂️

[@strawberrywigz1658]

@Wocc Prod okkeh shut yo ass up.

[@MyMelanatedScope]

They didn’t mention Bobby because he actually was guilty. They are trying to show that glorified lyrics are dangerous.

[@Chuckvsfrank1232]

@@abdul1999x same

[@freedawg5809]

they already had a strong case on all gs9 before the song even dropped

[@kayklash]

Oooooh now I see why mumble rap is necessary 😂😂👌

[@u1y55e]

underrated

[@thicckoolaid]

@@u1y55e irrelevant

[@Aj-ze6ds]

Lmao 😂😂😂

[@DarkshadeMusic]

😂 😂 😂

[@One-nm5cf]

Mumble rappers still talked about illegal drugs killing and robbing ppl

[@Xzcvr]

Didn’t even mention Bobby shmurda and rowdy rebel

[@flightofnavigator8631]

smh they didn't mention gangstalicious either

[@akellerseattle]

@@flightofnavigator8631 smh gangstalicious underrepresented

[@biscuitsarefoodyum8792]

Maybe cus everyone knows about it? Tho I agree with u

[@tesstickles4621]

Well because that's too obvious

[@SmartRapperTV]

This was very well put together. Thank you

[@takoda33]

Thank you Smart Rapper, very cool!

[@trillbans]

It really was ! I always wondered about rappers talking about such things

[@tomforrest2491]

Smart Rapper jj

[@shaythomas1996]

Smart rapper gang!

[@carlosgaming7053]

Bruh you bot your shit

[@husskiii]

tayk is a terrible example. he literally made a song completely confessing to the crime of avoiding trial

[@kitamine83]

Lil Plump dexter wouldnt that make him a good example

[@Tony-wn2lq]

Elijah Tan honestly

[@aidandevitt3633]

It’s a bad example for the point they’re making in this video. Tayks lyrics are a confession to a crime, while most of the others in this video are general rap lyrics stretched and considered confessions by prosecutors.

[@grega.5184]

I thought the exact same thing.

[@ConorGrennan97]

I know but it’s a fucking anthem

[@doorveshsantbakshsing9607]

Isn't that a key and Peele sketch?

[@samueljones3668]

Flower Dog Yup, that skit was pretty funny.

[@McEezy94]

This was an issue long before that sketch highlighted it

[@ea8529]

Lol

[@bobstar9053]

I killed Darnell yeah i shot him five times, and by the way it was November ninth

[@GhostSamaritan]

It happened in The Boondocks too. Wankstas been taking L's.

[@Dnttashme]

Then why ain’t R Kelly in jail after “I admit” 🤦‍♀️

[@snowsoicy4069]

sunshine because r kelly is rich as fuck these are small time rappers excluding mr bad azz

[@DavidFarquharsonPhotography]

sunshine because that song is fire 😂🔥

[@strawberrywigz1658]

Can u use ur mind? Not every single rapper will be treated the same, that's the world.

[@DatDude_]

how about "White is right" and "Dora the explora" by pink guy? LMFAO

[@Jxrd99]

@@DatDude_ All of pink guys songs are satire.

[@narcopolo6919]

So heavy metal singers can be taking into custody for being threats to themselves?

[@alichaha288]

What a double standard. Lol.

[@Husky_Family1]

Narco Polo underrated comment😂😂😂

[@jahjohnson31]

No because heavy metal artist get searched up just like rappers

[@jahjohnson31]

They may not be commuting a crime but it gives police probable cause like if tay k says he’s gonna kill someone and then that someone dies

[@jahjohnson31]

That gives police a lead the lead being you

[@neverknowsbest9855]

Self-Snitching.

[@petitnicollas]

Except most of them are lying because they want to look like gangsta.

[@nickfolesfanclub7160]

So if The Race’s lyrics said “fuck a beat I was tryna prove my innocence” then he would be looked at differently?

[@dymi9691]

😂😂

[@raiden4042]

Bar behind bars aye

[@JarmalK]

Underrated tweet

[@Theycallmeali3.12]

You won the internet👏👏

[@esekai6041]

Raiden40 baarrssss

[@saumitjin5526]

Aye!

[@waleed-un3wk]

@@JarmalK tweet?

[@pan-semitistcommunist4181]

Art shouldn't be admissible in court

[@bigsoap186]

Micheal Jackson's Aborted Son if you are already suspected for murder and then start yelling “I killed _______” you can go to court

[@hughthomson8086]

How can you stop someone from claiming that something is art?

[@farn0153]

"Yeah here's solid evidence that you raped and killed a child" "Umm yah that's just art"

[@bigsoap186]

Farn0 oh here’s a literal confession on your song but it’s just art

[@traplover6357]

@@bigsoap186 it's really stupid to think everything said in rap is all true. People faking for street cred this generation. It's like accusing a writer for killing when they were a book about a fictional serial killer.

[@astrocrowbeats]

I feel like they watched the same ted talk I did last week

[@zionmesa673]

Yeah, I think so.

[@muffincat8327]

Holy fuck I wasn't the only one who got that Ted talk recommended

[@saumitjin5526]

Which one?

[@hrckhm]

@@saumitjin5526 same question

[@souhardyasaha6615]

I watched it too 😂

[@deiiyulol1407]

i mean i agree to every single one of what yall saying but Tay-K deserves going to jail

[@Raizen22]

That goes without saying.

[@kierankong3574]

Indeed.

[@internetposer8172]

#FreeTayK

[@dtm9792]

he didn't pull the trigger in either case though

[@Yokoyanorihiko]

Nigga u a bitch

[@samsandberg5402]

When will the government free the political prisoner Robert Shmurda

[@alexpena4819]

Sam Sandberg * Bobert Shmurda

[@ANKEQ6]

Rap Snitch Knishes-MF Doom. This song is super relevant to this video.

[@scorpianswag7724]

Andres 🔥

[@alexpena4819]

Niggas don’t know, and wouldn’t have the capacity to understand mf doom or what he (should) mean to hip hop.

[@romelo1201]

Bondocks also called it on that no snitching episode.

[@zachm6832]

This was actually a great video. For real.

[@ilywakeup]

these rappers wouldn’t be accused in the first place to have their lyrics used against them if they didn’t have any association with the crimes committed though ....

[@krystiankososhi915]

Sure, but proof of a crime shouldn't be taken from art

[@kweeng6113]

Thanks for saying that everyone in the comments acts like the police is just randomly putting people on jail because of their lyrics. I admit sometimes it's not necessary and unfair but when you are a suspect to murder and then rap in your songs about how you killed someone.. C'mon what do you think will happen. 😑

[@juliuscaesar7900]

MF Doom said it best on "Rap Snitches"

[@kyoungt14]

Word to Ganstalicious

[@tomcruz8615]

"Rap snitches, telling all their business Sit in the court and be their own star witness Do you see the perpetrator? Yeah, I'm right here Fuck around, get the whole label sent up for years" Still holds up now i guess lol

[@wl1360]

it was Mr. fantastik who sais that, actually...

[@abdougunner2560]

Was looking for this comment

[@massimoamato5593]

Rap snitches, telling all they business

[@alexpena4819]

Massimo Amato go into court and be they own star witness

[@massimoamato5593]

Alexs NorfEas do you see the perpetrator? Yeah I’m right here!

[@Alphacarmine72]

Was just about to comment this lol

[@DRACOFURY]

Hit him with the henniseeeeey.... -Gangstalicious

[@cyrah.]

that's why here in the UK whenever we rap about these things we wear balaclavas. so they don't​ know (the police) who is behind the balaclava

[@Frost4Real]

Unfortunately doesnt work like that anymore. 1011 got arrested and most of them wear ballies but they still got their music videos and lyrics used against them in court to ban them from music. Feds can determine identities now I guess which is just completely retarded.

[@user-jd8wo8fd9p]

@@Frost4Real Y.ACG Striker feds dont know who he is due to bally + voice changer

[@footba11fan41ife]

boondocks predicted this as well lol

[@xBLACKSTARV2]

Literal definition of "you played yourself"

[@evilscarypumpkin4872]

Anyone else remember that one key and peele sketch

[@TheVanillaB]

Well jcoles lyrics would most likely be used against him instead of Johnny cash cuz Johnny cash is dead

[@alexpena4819]

😂

[@de132]

J. Cole and Johnny Cash have never been in the same room?! What if J. Cole murdered Johnny Cash?

[@GhostSamaritan]

Jermaine Coleman J. Cole J. C. J. Cash Johnny Cash J. Cash J. C. Jay Z J. Cole is signed to Jay Z…. Alexa, play X-Files opening song!

[@8o8g91]

Unfunny

[@dadon6055]

@@GhostSamaritan Bro *J ... F ... K..*

[@Crixzly]

Actually the Miranda Rights end with “Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”

[@earphonejack4593]

Looks like bars sending these boys behind bars zz

[@shanesaunders693]

So you just not gonna mention Bobby Shmurda?

[@AmericaFromScratch]

We are liking this new style of journalism by Genius! Keep it up!

[@LClark-os1pe]

Who else surprised Bobby Shmurda isn’t mentioned ?

[@arnold17]

imma rap about donating a million dollars for the tax benefit

[@KhalifaSanto23]

I THOUGHT THAT WAS ZIAS @0:11

[@laikonicole1983]

Bobby Shmurda and Tay K had us vibing to murder confessions.

[@theoftheofwas286]

When he said “⚓️” I felt that

[@samcraig2974]

"Mmm, delicious, rap snitch knishes"

[@cedrichague6533]

tellin all they business

[@wl1360]

@@tiara7588 mr. fantastik said it

[@Stancenation305]

Bars so hard they land behind bars

[@408sophon]

Nice videos man

[@playboi9667]

this video must be like film study for defence attorneys representing artists 😂😂

[@jacobfarrell1050]

I don't know.. Johnny Cash seems more Gangta then J. Cole. haha...

[@youngdream1108]

NBA young boy better watch out

[@eddie4410]

Video is chill and all but that Nike windbreaker 🔥🤝

[@user-ln2qq5bw5m]

>plays Tay-K as intro >He was on “The Race” already >Totally caused him to land in the bars

[@cuzcon.9273]

Damn

[@Fent-]

I just called Chief... He said free Tay K

[@xaviercolon3994]

YRN TJ this IS it

[@TearYouApart360]

"I try not to say nothing, the DA might want to play in court." -50 Cent

[@eshanks5569]

That half zip is hard though J

[@Frdgamer]

That jacket looks good

[@TheGoldenwolf522]

I recommend a Ted Talk by Charis Kubrin that outlines this very issue

[@goldenkhy6845]

Dry snitching - snitching without literally snitching by hiding it and giving clues

[@Cartwright21215]

People say most rappers lying and then say the lyrics true when it’s time for court this shit entertainment based off true events it’s like a movie stuff will be added for entertainment purposes

[@TooH2k]

Lmao take rick Ross out of here he was a CO

[@treefiddytwoo]

fuck that shit don’t matter to a judge 🤦‍♂️

[@alexpena4819]

They used him as an example of lying lyrics

[@strawberrywigz1658]

Whats a CO?

[@riomatm7740]

.

[@jesseladd6864]

KingWIgz 1 correctional officer

[@kevanathra8741]

It's not racism in Tay-K's case, it's the fact that he straight-up admitted to the alleged assault. If Johnny Cash was a suspect for murder, then wrote a song about how he did it, it would be used against him.

[@leturlefr3264]

2:41 damn my dude

[@typical2195]

Can you do a video on the history of the mention the chronic?

[@MrAlisted619]

Young Dumb and Behind Bars

[@Daduu]

But Eminem has been doing this for years? 🤔 lmao

[@grizzlyer2200]

Juniorey hes talked about selling drugs or described killing someone?

[@bigsoap186]

Grizzly ER yes

[@bigsoap186]

Juniorey he’s been interrogated by the secret service and FBI you know

[@Daduu]

Grizzly ER bruh u must be 12 lmao

[@grizzlyer2200]

Juniorey why? cuz i dont listen to eminem? or what

[@jetsmoxe3246]

Sheesh it’s even worse nowadays

[@jackmckeever8065]

Anyone got a link to that jacket?

[@DAD0N74]

bobby shmurda snitch on him nd da whole gs9 literally

[@yungokubule]

its still #freetayk till its backwards

[@treefiddytwoo]

hell naw

[@Henv0]

#kyateerf

[@IzzyNova]

so uh, kyat eerf?

[@chiefsosa2568]

YungOkubule nah he killed people and beat up a defenseless old man. He’s where he belongs

[@ImMetalMechanika]

YungOkubule definitely aint it cheif

[@JDelta87]

If I'm not mistaken, that J. Cole verse is him telling the story of a killer, not himself but I get the point you're making.

[@gunnerdohrenwend227]

I literally watched a ted talk about this earlier today. Wild

[@YungCutty]

Rap snitches, tellin all their business...

[@tasenova2717]

ok so does eminem get a bunch of murder charges?

[@dawsonlange2161]

he had investigations back in the early 2000's on him... just listen to sing for the moment by him

[@akellerseattle]

lol Em had a few investigations on him, and the secret service interrogated him bc of the BET Cypher.

[@bigsoap186]

TSchism lots of invesigations but Eminem’s are actually just stories unlike a lot of these ppl

[@plartoota4584]

Eminem was literally investigated heavily and arrested multiple rimes when he was coming up

[@jamiegreene7836]

Key and peele!!!

[@sushio8151]

This need to blow up.

[@BriaUpNext]

Fun Fact: only very few rappers don’t go to jail

[@bigol9223]

Just for MUSIC!??!?! 😡

[@bigsoap186]

Rup Tratin no for actual crines they commited. Outside of rap

[@azric33]

J Cole is DEFINITELY more likely to go to jail for murder than Johnny Cash. Especially since Johnny Cash is very dead.

[@joellebruce1014]

LMFAO🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂

[@skylerboyce2597]

Not funny at all he meant they never would've considered charging him when he was alive obviously with this dumb comment you made

[@mrguim11]

what jacket is that?

[@kvsino4206]

Why is it that rap lyrics are taken so seriously and movie scripts aren't? Why can't a rapper write about a violent story? There are so many movies with violence written into them but I have yet to see a screenwriter face charges because of a story he or she wrote for a movie... No one ever looks at a screenwriter and says "he wrote that script for John Wick, he must be an undercover assassin." Art is art and this is just another way of oppressing the black community. Wake up.

[@dom19945]

I don't see it as entirely unfair to use as evidence in a trial. I mean, rap lyrics from a rapper's mouth , especially lyrics that state "I do this" or "I did that," are probably more reliable than eye-witness testimony.

[@dom19945]

Honestly, ya'll are playing the race card. Nobody is sending Kdot, J Cole, or Tyler to jail for the characters they play in their music. Same with Ross. Same with Cash. Was Bobby Shmurda playing a character? It's impossible to tell. That's why it was allowed as evidence. Is rap lyrics as strong or convincing of evidence as physical evidence? No. But it can still be allowed.

[@alexanderscalzo340]

Lyrics is not close 2 being credible evidence. U need real solid evidence like DNA, a weapon, phone records, etc. Not lyrics since ur telling a story thru these lyrics it can be exaggerated

[@ditdisini]

Yes we want more Jacques

[@kingpotato7183]

This is like that one key and peele skit

[@coiboi4548]

“Just a rap lyric”? Come on dude don’t play dumb you know they’re bragging about whatever they did.

[@metalpandah3316]

@Skrooge Lantay You don't have to be guilty to sign a confession either

[@moneymakinmitch8130]

Ian Austin not all cases man you really think every rapper claiming they shoot guns and kill people are telling the truth ?

[@ronspitzer9974]

“Rap snitches, tellin all their business, sit in the court and be their own star witness...”

[@robertireland6215]

the solution: don't commit the crime and admit to it in a song.

[@MinhVTGIS]

Behind bars: that’s dope wordplay

[@TheGoldenwolf522]

Why are lyrics from other genres not being used as evidence? Like heavy metal or rock. Why? cause racism like where are first amendment rights?

[@jasonreyes5875]

HipsterTRAsh other genres don’t detail specific crimes dummy

[@julio1320_]

It's more common in rap,It's what's Poppin right now, so it's easier to tell who's doing what.

[@nonamefound123]

you must have an actual case for the lyrics to be used against you

[@zionmesa673]

Because rap is primarily black. It doesn't need to be a specific crime and you don't need to bring have a record. Being black is enough.

[@TheGoldenwolf522]

@@jasonreyes5875 actually they do, but like the video said people automatically interpret it metaphorically except when it comes to rap. Theres an excellent tedtalk on this very issue why dont you go educate yourself.

[@jameswrhymer]

So I love Hip Hop. But we might need to stop normalizing this kind of stuff in music. It’s dangerous, and ultimately makes us look bad. We can do better than talking about drugs and killing people, no matter how hard the beat goes.

[@elezar6380]

Cake" means booty "bread means money😂

[@cassiusfelix2805]

If you rapping about murdering people in a graphic manor then at that point your just admitting the crime to the world.

[@FirstNameLastName-pg3pi]

unless you didnt murder anyone

[@vicentepaaa7955]

"...Yet Cole is probably more likely to have the lyrics used against him in court because hip-hop doesn't get the same level of artistic license as iother genres" That is true, and that when you have died it's difficult to be sent to prison.

[@vicentepaaa7955]

Fuck, I hope the police don't find "Dance with the devil"

[@jkyzey8297]

Yoo i'm early af.

[@diegolopez3700]

That jacket he wearing mad clean

[@NoName-qy6ls]

We have here in PH. They cut producing the air here because one of our goverment departmen thought that the song teaching drug addiction

[@JackMAngelo]

J cole is more likely to have these brought against him than Johnny Cash, yeah no shit he’s dead. I see your point, but try harder to find an example outside of hip hop

[@JackMAngelo]

Also that’s not how the Miranda rights end. Bad job.

[@eternalblasphemy6526]

Just look into Death/Black metal scene and you'll find all the examples you need.

[@jodrak4246]

marilyn manson dude

[@zionmesa673]

J Cole is white though, so he should be fine.

[@eternalblasphemy6526]

Isn't he mixed?

[@jeyrengrullon4835]

Free #tayk and Bobby Shmurda

[@rnbedits5609]

Hell na keep TayK ass in there, free bobby tho

[@notsofast8568]

Tay is a murderer....

[@mindtrapped9934]

That Johnny Cash example was on point

[@ThankGodImBlack370]

These type of cases are extremely beatable. These lawyers must be throwing the case. We solved this back on the 80s.

[@deadbeat9708]

I like how they tried to turn this in to a race thing. These rappers literally brag about killing, looting and robbing.

[@GroundandPound]

GhoulMadeThatShit boi its because most of them aren’t doing the stuff they say. That’s why they made it about race. Everybody knows once they get rich they are frauds

[@cbchansey6866]

So they should go to jail?

[@Edwin_Erich_Dwinger]

Yes make it a race thing smh..

[@skylerboyce2597]

Yes be typical and ignore racism smh

[@don8244]

Tay-K rapped it, he did it. THAT'S real. Too many rappers who hit the charts are fake, saying ish that they never did. He's different. Got much respect to that.

[@ckamo10]

Donald C big facts

[@moneymakinmitch8130]

Don lmao you respect the fact that he killed innocent folks I like bros music too but that ain’t nothing to respect

[@ofeolebile]

When you spit bars so hard, you end up behind them

[@gvybz2659]

I know a guy who know a guy who know a guy who know a guy who.. Read More

[@IMMASICKKKFUCK]

Shove all of them up your ass...

[@blessedowoboi]

I fell for it

[@zionmesa673]

Clever.... Read more

[@CRAiCED.]

It's not the lyrics it's their dumb actions and then bragging ahahaha

[@vicentereyna6270]

Remember, "Gs" move in silence. They don't talk what they did. Or what they are dealing with

[@Iarceny]

vicente Reyna like lasagna

[@cassiusfelix2805]

Tay-K a real killer out here