Most people will be unaware that in the UK, rap lyrics are treated as criminal evidence. This is due to a little-known piece of legislation known as the Victim and Courts Bill.
Baroness Chakrabarti of the House of Lords has introduced an amendment proposal with the intention of making rap lyrics inadmissible and seen as creative output rather than evidence of crime.
An organization known as Art Not Evidence has drafted the amendment through Kier Monteith, KC.
This amendment seeks to challenge the unfair treatment of rap artists and drill rappers, particularly young black men, and stop them from being treated as criminals for their music.
Baroness Chakrabarti has pointed out that the amendment would limit the scope of admissible evidence, but not completely eliminate it.
Chakrabarti further points out a discrepancy in this legal treatment of rap lyrics in comparison to gangster movies, which are entirely fictional and not seen as motivation for criminal activity. You can view the proposed amendment here.