The Economist explains

How art is used against artists, like Young Thug, in court

The lyrics of rap music are regularly used as evidence in criminal trials

FILE - Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, makes his first appearance at the Fulton County c
Photograph: AP

THE “P” IN “Pushin P”, a song featuring Young Thug, does not refer to the street name for methamphetamine, according to the rapper’s lawyers—rather, it stands for “positivity”. The threatening connotations of “Thug” are also misleading, they claim. That supposedly stands for “Truly Humbled Under God”. And his lyrics, which often reference drugs and violence, are supposedly written from the perspective of a fake persona.

From the January 6th 2024 edition

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