\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”off” parallax_method__hover=”off”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_1″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Left Nav Sidebar” module_id=”left-nav-menu” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ remove_border=”on”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”off” parallax_method__hover=”off”][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n
Comment<\/h1>\n\n“Young people from poor backgrounds are now becoming categorised as troublemakers through the mere act of making a music video.”
Dr Joy White, University of Bedfordshire<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n
\n“What\u2019s getting really unnerving is the amount of time it appears both police and prosecutors are spending over rap lyrics and videos on social media rather than using that time to go and gather more convincing, more conventional forms of evidence.”
Professor Erik Nielson, Richmond University<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nRead press coverage and blogs as well as commentaries commissioned for this site on how police, prosecutors and the media engage with rap in legal cases and how these practices have been challenged.<\/p>\n
Press<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″ border_color_all=”#ffffff” use_border_color=”off”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Press articles” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
\n- Enjoying mafia movies doesn\u2019t make me a killer. So be wary of the state using rap music to prove murder<\/span><\/a>
Shami Chakrabarti,\u00a0<\/span>The Guardian\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(2026)<\/span><\/li>\n- Campaigners urge UK ministers to make music lyrics inadmissible in court<\/a>\nLanre Bakare,\u00a0<\/span>The Guardian\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(2026)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- Concern over use of drill music in court<\/a>
Catherine Baksi, The Times<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- It risks miscarriages of justice\u2019: MPs oppose rap lyrics being used as evidence in UK trials<\/a>
Aneesa Ahmed, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- \u2018Art Not Evidence\u2019, a new campaign aims to stop the use of rap music as evidence in criminal trials<\/a>
Samantha Dulieu, The Justice Gap<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- Human rights group backs Manchester men who say racism led to murder convictions<\/a>
David Conn, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- The Guardian<\/em> view on rap and drill music: a song should not land the young in jail<\/a>
Editorial, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- Behind bars: how rap lyrics are being used to convict Black British men<\/a>
Will Pritchard, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- Police are taking down more UK drill and rap videos than ever \u2013 for artists, what is the cost?<\/a>
Will Pritchard, DJ Magazine<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- What kind of society sends young men to jail and ruins lives because of the lyrics in a song?<\/a>
Ciaran Thapar, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n- As the nation mourns the Queen, we are grieving the preventable death of Chris Kaba<\/a>
Franklyn Addo, The Guardian<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n- The Manchester 10<\/a><\/em>
Roxy Legane, Red Pepper<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n- Fury in Manchester as black teenagers jailed as result of Telegram chat<\/a>
Helen Pidd, The Guardian<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n- Spitting innocence: the use and abuse of drill lyrics in court<\/a>
Tara Joshi, Rolling Stone<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n- YouTube is Working with Met Police to Take Down Rap and Drill Videos
<\/a>Will Pritchard, Vice <\/em>(2022)<\/li>\n- Stars including Jay Z Call for an End to the Use of Rap Lyrics as Criminal Evidence
<\/a>Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Guardian <\/em>(2022)<\/li>\n- CPS to Review Guidance on Using Drill Music as Evidence
<\/a>Jeremy Ball and Caroline Lowbridge, BBC Online<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n- \u2018One Death, 11 Jailed Teenagers: Was a Moss Side murder trial racist?\u2019
<\/a>David Conn, The Observer <\/em>(2021)<\/li>\n- \u2018Criminologists Slam \u201cMisleading\u201d Policy Exchange<\/em> Report Linking Drill Music to Youth Violence\u2019
<\/a>Thomas Kingsley, The Independent<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- Coming to the Defence of Drill
<\/a>Catherine Baksi, The Times<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- How Police Prosecute Drill Artists with their Own Music
<\/a>Samir Jeraj, Huck Mag<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- Drill and Rap Music on Trial
<\/a>Steve Swann, BBC Online<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- Misunderstanding of Drill Music Leading to Unfair Convictions, says JUSTICE
<\/a>Catherine Baksi, The Law Society Gazette<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- JUSTICE Report Finds Misunderstanding Drill Music is Leading to Unfair Convictions
<\/a>Maeve Keenan, Youth Justice Legal Centre<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- Drill Lyrics Are Being Used Against Young Black Men in Court
<\/a>Kamila Rymajdo, Vice<\/em> (2020)<\/li>\n- Art not Crime. Artists not Criminals: Drill goes to Number One
<\/a>Leila Gaskin, The Crucible<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n- Prosecuting Rap: How a UK legal project is fighting the use of rap lyrics in court
<\/a>Kamila Rymajdo, DJ Mag<\/em> (2020)<\/li>\n- Stop Criminalising Drill Rappers, say Legal Campaigners
<\/a>Diane Taylor, The Guardian<\/em> (2019)<\/li>\n- Behind Bars: After years of the UK banning music, attempts to censor drill break alarming new ground
<\/a>McQuaid, I., Dummy Mag <\/em>(2019)<\/li>\n- Treating drill rappers as terrorists is a colossal mistake
<\/a>Ciaran Thapar, New Statesman <\/em>(2018)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
Blogs<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″ border_color_all=”#ffffff” use_border_color=”off”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Scholarly and legal blogs” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n
\n- Drill music and epistemic injustice<\/a>
Tareeq Jalloh (2023)<\/li>\n- Joint Enterprise and the \u2018Gang\u2019 Narrative
<\/a>Kids of Colour (2022)<\/li>\n- Missing the Point: How Policy Exchange<\/em> misunderstands knife crime in the capital
<\/a>Lambros Fatsis, Jonathan Ilan, Habib Kadiri, Abenaa Owusu-Bempah, Eithne Quinn, Michael Shiner, and Peter Squires (2022)<\/li>\n- Stop Blaming Drill for Making People Kill
<\/a>Lambros Fatsis (2021)<\/li>\n- Part of Art or Part of Life? Rap lyrics in criminal trials
<\/a>Abenaa Owusu-Bempah (2020)<\/li>\n- Prosecutors are increasingly \u2013 and misleadingly \u2013 using rap lyrics as evidence in court<\/a>
Erik Nielson (2020)<\/li>\n- \u2018Does Drill Kill? Moral panics, race and music\u2019
<\/a>Lambros Fatsis (2020)<\/li>\n- Lost in Translation? Rap music and racial bias in the courtroom
<\/a>Eithne Quinn (2018)<\/li>\n- \u2018Making Music Videos is Not a Criminal Activity \u2013 no matter what genre\u2019
<\/a>Joy White (2018)<\/li>\n- Taking the Rap
<\/a>Eithne Quinn (2014)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text admin_label=”Commentaries Text” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
Commentaries<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Frank Addo Box with Image” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n ![\"Franklyn](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/07\/franklyn-addo-640x480.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFranklyn Addo<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption> <\/div>\n
<\/a> We should engage with rather than criminalise creative forms like UK Drill<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Latoya Reisner Box with Image” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n ![\"Latoya](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/07\/latoya-reisner-640x480.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLatoya Reisner<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption> <\/div>\n
<\/a> Arrive like you mean it<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Dirty Cipher Box with Image” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n ![\"Microphone](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/07\/dirty-cipher-710x480.png\")
<\/p>\nDirty Cipher<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption> <\/div>\n
<\/a> Censoring live rap music<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” module_class=”footer-section” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” admin_label=”row” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Our partners Title” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners and Credits logos 1″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n![\"Centre](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/05\/Code-300x300.jpg\")
![\"Ciphon](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/05\/Ciphon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners and Credits text” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n
“Young people from poor backgrounds are now becoming categorised as troublemakers through the mere act of making a music video.” [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n “What\u2019s getting really unnerving is the amount of time it appears both police and prosecutors are spending over rap lyrics and videos on social media rather than using that time to go and gather more convincing, more conventional forms of evidence.” Read press coverage and blogs as well as commentaries commissioned for this site on how police, prosecutors and the media engage with rap in legal cases and how these practices have been challenged.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″ border_color_all=”#ffffff” use_border_color=”off”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Press articles” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=”3.17.6″ border_color_all=”#ffffff” use_border_color=”off”][et_pb_accordion_item title=”Scholarly and legal blogs” open=”on” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em” body_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0em” body_text_shadow_blur_strength=”0em”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text admin_label=”Commentaries Text” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”left” use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Frank Addo Box with Image” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/figcaption> <\/div>\n <\/a> <\/figcaption> <\/div>\n <\/a> <\/figcaption> <\/div>\n <\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Partners and Credits text” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n
Dr Joy White, University of Bedfordshire<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Professor Erik Nielson, Richmond University<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nPress<\/h2>\n
\n
Shami Chakrabarti,\u00a0<\/span>The Guardian\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(2026)<\/span><\/li>\n
Catherine Baksi, The Times<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Aneesa Ahmed, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Samantha Dulieu, The Justice Gap<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
David Conn, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Editorial, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Will Pritchard, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Will Pritchard, DJ Magazine<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Ciaran Thapar, The Guardian<\/em> (2023)<\/li>\n
Franklyn Addo, The Guardian<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n
Roxy Legane, Red Pepper<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n
Helen Pidd, The Guardian<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n
Tara Joshi, Rolling Stone<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Will Pritchard, Vice <\/em>(2022)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Guardian <\/em>(2022)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Jeremy Ball and Caroline Lowbridge, BBC Online<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n
<\/a>David Conn, The Observer <\/em>(2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Thomas Kingsley, The Independent<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Catherine Baksi, The Times<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Samir Jeraj, Huck Mag<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Steve Swann, BBC Online<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Catherine Baksi, The Law Society Gazette<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Maeve Keenan, Youth Justice Legal Centre<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Kamila Rymajdo, Vice<\/em> (2020)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Leila Gaskin, The Crucible<\/em> (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Kamila Rymajdo, DJ Mag<\/em> (2020)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Diane Taylor, The Guardian<\/em> (2019)<\/li>\n
<\/a>McQuaid, I., Dummy Mag <\/em>(2019)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Ciaran Thapar, New Statesman <\/em>(2018)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBlogs<\/h2>\n
\n
Tareeq Jalloh (2023)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Kids of Colour (2022)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Lambros Fatsis, Jonathan Ilan, Habib Kadiri, Abenaa Owusu-Bempah, Eithne Quinn, Michael Shiner, and Peter Squires (2022)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Lambros Fatsis (2021)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Abenaa Owusu-Bempah (2020)<\/li>\n
Erik Nielson (2020)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Lambros Fatsis (2020)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Eithne Quinn (2018)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Joy White (2018)<\/li>\n
<\/a>Eithne Quinn (2014)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nCommentaries<\/h2>\n
Franklyn Addo<\/h2>\n
Latoya Reisner<\/h2>\n
Dirty Cipher<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/05\/Manchester-University-300x129.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"UKRI](\"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/prosecuting-rap\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/06\/ukri.jpg\")
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