It’s no secret state and federal prosecutors love trying to use rappers lyrics against them as evidence in court. It’s a clear affront to first amendment rights, and yet two high-profile cases have emerged in 2014 alone.
Tiny Doo and Bobby Shmurda are the latest examples of rappers charged for crimes they rhymed about. Check the following rappers’ lyrics and decide if it’s a case of being punished for reporting the realities of street life or the byproduct of when keeping it real goes very wrong.
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Photo: Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor New York
Project Pat
Charge: Two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon.
Lyrics: “Mane it’s Project Pata / Playa from the sizouth / Always pack the gatta / Gold teeth in my mizouth…” – “North Memphis”
T.I.
Charge: Buying illegal machine guns.
Lyrics: “At the club or the streets, or wherever we should meet / It’s choppers choppin’, pistol’s poppin’ pimpin’ / You don’t know me.” – “U Don’t Know Me”
B.G.
Charge: Two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Lyrics: “Lil’ geezy be thuggin’ to the fullest / Stay strapped, so when drama kick I’m ready to pull it.” – “Thuggin’”
C-Murder
Charge: Second degree murder.
Lyrics: “Make ‘em bleed is the motto that I live by / If you f**k with me, it’s a must, you die.” – “Down 4 My N****s”
Prodigy
Charge: Criminal possession of a weapon.
Lyrics: “Goin’ through the emotions of heat holdin’ / Long shotgun down my pants leg limpin’.” – “Quiet Storm”
Shyne
Charge: First-degree assault, gun possession, and reckless endangerment.
Lyrics: “F**k yo’ point is / My point is double fours at your fu**in’ jaws / Pointed, hollow point s**t…” – “Bad Boyz”
X-Raided
Charge: Gang related homicide.
Lyrics: “I know she saw me when she started walking faster / I grabbed the Glock, and I was just about to blast her / But then I stopped because I thought it’d be much better…” – “B***h Killa”
Max B
Charge: Kidnapping, felony murder, and armed robbery.
Lyrics: “We did it easy no frontin’ / And did it in a way when n****s couldn’t see me coming / Better duck when n****s is gunnin’…” – “Why You Do That?”
Tiny Doo
Charge: Multiple counts of conspiracy to commit a felony with a criminal street gang
Lyrics: “Ain’t met a pack a n****s like these here / All of the D’s clear, stash work when the D’s near / After they track out, then it’s back to the crack house / Another long night of work and patrolling with MACs out.” – “Nine Eleven”
Beanie Sigel
Charge: Two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of controlled substances.
“The Mac untuckin’ a pump, removin’ they wig, with ease / Hear the feds tryin’ to ruin the boy Sieg’…” – “The Life”
Flesh-N-Bone
Charge: Assault with a deadly weapon and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon.
Lyrics: “Say can’t escape from a thugsta trailer / So many victims, had to leave ‘em (smellin’) for yellin’ / I kill ‘em and hop in the smug, Start bailin’ back on the strip by twelve / Might as well, set up shop ‘til them coppers come up…” – “Crazy By The Flesh”
photo: WENN
Lil Wayne
Charge: Attempted criminal possession of a weapon
Lyrics: “I come through with them twin Glocks…”- “Banana Clips”
Turk
Charge: Attempted second-degree murder
Lyrics: “In the middle of the quarter in one of them hallways / Quick to spill ya’ blood, I’m real I ain’t fake / Leave ya a** a murder scene in the middle of yellow tape…” – “It’s In Me”
Bobby Shmurda
Charge: Arrested for possible involvement in shootings and narcotics trafficking.
Lyrics: “I’m still trapping hard / I’m still talking ‘bout them chickens in the wall…” – “Shmoney Dance”
