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A group of artists, scholars, and music industry leaders — including Killer Mike, Young Thug, T.I., Travis Scott, and Kevin Liles — have filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to reject the use of rap lyrics in the sentencing phase of a Texas death penalty case.
Filed in support of Dallas death row inmate James Broadnax, the brief argues prosecutors improperly used his lyrics to suggest he posed a future threat to society — a key factor juries must weigh before imposing the death penalty in Texas. Led by appellate attorney Chad Baruch and hip-hop scholar Erik Nielson, the filing is backed by 30 artists and academics and six arts organizations.
The coalition says treating rap lyrics as literal evidence risks inflaming racial bias and misrepresenting artistic expression. Broadnax is currently scheduled to be executed on April 30.
