Real World Lecture: Why is rap and drill music used in criminal trials?

This exciting Real World Lecture will explore how the treatment of rap music by the criminal legal system is linked to processes of racialised criminalisation. Criminal behaviour orders have been used to silence rap musicians by imposing conditions such as bans on recording or performing music without police permission, and prohibitions of writing certain lyrics. In criminal proceedings, rap music has been admitted as bad character evidence to show propensity to commit offences, disprove a defence, or establish an element of the offence, such as motive or intention. The dangers of admitting rap music as character evidence are demonstrated by plenty of research which makes this an exciting topic to look further into. If you are interested in criminal law, human rights and freedom of expression, then this is an event for you.