A US judge has ruled that rap lyrics written by the man accused of killing Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC cannot be used in the murder trial. The decision was reached on 31 January, with federal judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ruling that the lyrics prosecutors wanted to use against Karl Jordan Jr were not directly connected to the star’s murder in 2002. Prosecutors wanted to use the lyrics: “We aim for the head, no body shots, and we stick around just to see the body drop.” They argued that as Jam Master Jay – real name Jason Mizell – was shot in the head, the lyrics “speaks directly to the issues in the case.”
The judge wrote that “courts should be wary of overly permissive rules allowing the use of rap lyrics and videos against criminal defendants at trial…Music artists should be free to create without fear that their lyrics could be unfairly used against them at a trial.” In addition to discussing Jordan’s lyrics, Hall offered a 14-page overview of the history and evolution of hip-hop. She noted that rap artists have “played the part of storytellers, providing a lens into their lives and those in their communities,” but that their depictions of “criminal conduct” often brings scrutiny “not only from the public, but also from law enforcement.”
The use of rap lyrics in trials has become an increasingly contentious issue in the US and UK. In January, key members from the Art Not Evidence campaign called for legislation restricting the use of lyrics as evidence in criminal trials, backed by the likes of Idles and Annie Mac. The campaign has argued that the criminalisation of drill music in particular can impede up-and-coming rappers.
Jam Master Jay’s murder trial began on 30 January, with the court hearing that the Run-DMC legend’s killing was motivated by greed and revenge. Both Jordan and Ronald Washington stand accused of the murder. It’s alleged that Mizell was involved in cocaine deals, one of which involved Jordan Jr (18 at the time) and Washington. The pair were allegedly told they would be part of a deal worth nearly $200,000 (£157,000), but were said to have been cut out. Prosecutors claimed Jordan Jr and Washington planned to murder Mizell after being “left with nothing”. The defence told the jury that Jordan Jr and Washington did not murder Mizell, arguing that the defendants “have no clue who did it.”
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