CA Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Limiting Rap Lyric Evidence In Court

CA Gov. Newsom is making Cali the first state to block prosecutors from freely using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases and the move has some high-profile supporters. Newsom looked like he was hosting a hip hop award show Friday as he put his John Hancock on Assembly Bill 2799. The signing went down in an online forum that included Too $hort, Meek Mill, Killer Mike, Tyga, YG, E-40, Ty Dolla $ign. and some other industry heavyweights. The new CA law prevents prosecutors from using rappers' lyrics in court as circumstantial evidence unless a judge first reviews and approves it. Before the Gov. signed, several of the rappers talked about why the bill was so important. Cali homegrown MCs E-40 and Too $hort, in particular, stressed the need for artists to have the freedom to creatively express themselves and said they hoped the Golden State would start a trend. A similar bill in New York faltered earlier this year in that state's legislature.

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