ATLANTA, Georgia – In an effort to have the YSL RICO case dismissed, Young Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, has filed a memorandum of law. This move comes as a recent murder conviction in another Georgia case involving hip hop music raises questions about the use of rap videos as evidence in court.
The murder conviction of Morgan Cardelle Baker was overturned after Georgia’s highest court ruled that a rap music video should not have been played for the jurors. The video in question, “Ghetto Angels” by NoCap, showed Baker waving a gun.
Taking note of this ruling, Steel filed a memorandum of law requesting that all evidence related to rap videos, musical lyrics, and similar forms of artistic expression be excluded from the YSL RICO case. He argued that the admission of such evidence without proper foundation violates constitutional and statutory provisions.
Steel further emphasized the lack of information regarding the lyrics, their authorship, production, and intent. He urged the court to exclude any evidence related to the state’s requested rap videos and lyrics.
This development adds to the complexity of the YSL RICO trial, in which Young Thug was previously identified as the alleged gunman in a 911 call played for the jurors. The call, made in 2013, was initially attributed to Thugga as the shooter of a mutual friend, but the woman on the call clarified that she was relaying information from someone else.
As the YSL RICO trial continues, the defense’s efforts to challenge the use of rap videos and lyrics as evidence highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the interpretation and admissibility of artistic expressions in the courtroom. The outcome of the case may have implications for future trials involving music and entertainment.