Most rap lyrics by Yella Beezy cannot be used as evidence against him in his murder-for-hire trial, a Dallas judge ruled Monday. The use of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions has become a controversial topic, as First Amendment advocates argue they aren’t meant to be taken literally and are a legitimate expression of free speech. — told KERA rap songs can only be used as evidence if there’s a link between the lyrics and the crime. “You can’t just have a blanket rule that says, well, you can use rap lyrics, or you can’t”He also said the use of rap lyrics is controversial because they are used as evidence while lyrics in other genres are often not. The highest criminal court in Texas found in 2024 that, when rap lyrics are introduced, their value as evidence must outweigh the bias they introduce.