YSL trial ends, but legislation it spawned still has life in Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. - A case against several high-profile rap artists, the longest trial in Georgia’s history, essentially ended on Monday.
With the final defendant in the Young Slime Life racketeering case taking a plea deal, the proceedings that lasted over 500 days came to an abrupt end. It saw charges brought against high-profile rappers Young Thug, Gunna, Yak Gotti and other of YSL — which defendants claim was a record label but prosecutors argued acted as a violent criminal enterprise.
One of the case’s most fascinating sticking points was the attempts by prosecutors to use the artist’s song lyrics as evidence, saying they pointed to proof of actual crimes having been committed. After reviewing their argument, a judge allowed roughly a dozen lyrics to be entered into court.
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The fight over that evidence got the attention of state Representative Kasey Carpenter, a Dalton Republican. Carpenter, a huge fan of the arts – especially rap music – swiftly crafted a bill that would require a judge to review all artistic expressive material before it’s shown to a jury. That included song lyrics, art, dance, and any other artistic medium.
“It basically would allow that evidence to be brought before a jury, but it just had to be vetted on the front side by the judge,” said Carpenter on Monday. “Because I think it’s important to allow our artistic folks to express themselves. I mean that’s their jobs.”
House Bill 237 didn’t this legislative session, but Carpenter and his sponsors will fight hard for its age when lawmakers return to the Gold Dome.
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“The only way we’re going to get change, the only way we’re going to get answers, the only way we’re going to see difference is to unite as one,” said Shaekia Calhoun.
“As a big fan of our artistic community in the state, that it was important to get out in front on this issue,” he said. “It’s not just this particular case, there’s cases all over the United States dealing with this stuff.”
Carpenter also said he feared artists leaving Georgia, a state with a successful entertainment industry, if they’re in fear of their work being used as evidence.
“They’re not going to live in the state of Georgia, they’re not going to spend their money in the state of Georgia, they’re not going to pay taxes in the state of Georgia if they feel fear of retribution,” said Carpenter. “We need to create an environment where they continue to thrive in the state of Georgia, not push them to places that are more advantageous for them to live.”
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