Top 10 Times Rappers Got Busted Over Their Lyrics
#10: Brandon “Tiny Doo” Duncan
San Diego rapper Brandon Duncan, who goes by the stage name Tiny Doo, released his fourth studio album “No Safety” in 2014. Featuring lyrics that reportedly alluded to criminal activity and an album art that displayed a gun and bullets, “No Safety” was used to build a case against Duncan. The rapper was charged with gang conspiracy, in relation to a couple of shootings that occurred in 2013 and 2014, and faced life in prison, if convicted. Although they agreed that Duncan was not directly involved in the incidents, prosecutors sought to use his lyrics to prove he promoted and benefited from gang violence. Ultimately, Duncan was cleared of the charges after the case was thrown out by a judge.
#9: Vonte Skinner
In 2008, aspiring rapper Vonte Skinner was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. As a significant part of their evidence, prosecutors read the jury 13 pages of violent lyrics penned by Skinner, some of which were reportedly written years before the incident. This seemed to have swayed the jury into convicting Skinner – at least, that was what judges in an appellate court thought when they overturned his conviction in 2012. The case, which largely hinged on two eyewitness testimonies, was taken all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court. In 2014, the judges unanimously decided to strike down Skinner’s conviction.
#8: Jamal “Mayhem Mal” Knox
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The case of Pittsburgh rapper Jamal Knox attracted the attention of several prominent hip-hop artists including Chance the Rapper, Meek Mill and 21 Savage. In 2012, Knox, who raps under the name Mayhem Mal, was arrested after police found a loaded gun, a large amount of drugs and cash in his car. Following his release, Knox co-wrote a song in which he reportedly threatened the two arresting officers, and called them out by name. The song’s lyrics were later used as evidence to prosecute Knox on charges of witness intimidation and issuing terrorist threats. He was convicted and sentenced to two to six years imprisonment – a decision that was affirmed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upon appeal.
#7: Lawrence Montague
Lawrence Montague, a hip-hop artist from Maryland, was arrested in October 2017 on gun and murder charges. While awaiting trial in jail, Montague rapped a verse to a friend over a call that was being recorded. The verse reportedly contained lines that alluded to the case he was charged with. Prosecutors presented these lyrics during his trial and were able to secure a conviction for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in a crime of violence. These charges attracted a hefty fifty-year sentence. After Montague appealed to a higher court, his motion was denied by the judges who argued that the verse’s lyrics closely resembled the details of the alleged incident.
#6: Tommy Mundswell Canady
At just 15 years old, SoundCloud rapper Tommy Mundswell Canady was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and armed robbery. The case involved the 2014 killing of Sémar McClain, a 19-year-old who was shot in an alley. Two days after the unfortunate incident, Canady released a song titled “I’m Out Here”, in which he was alleged to have called the victim by name. Although Canady claimed this was actually misheard by prosecutors. Nevertheless, the particularly damning lyrics were played for the jury on the last day of testimony and most likely played a part in the guilty verdict they turned in. Since he was tried as an adult, Canady was sentenced to life in prison.
#5: 6ix9ine
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Born Daniel Hernandez, New York City rapper 6ix9ine has been the subject of multiple legal issues and controversies. In 2018, shortly after escaping incarceration for another offense, 6ix9ine was charged with multiple crimes, including racketeering. Prosecutors used lyrics from some of his songs, including “Gummo” and “Billy”, to build a case against him. Eventually, the rapper arranged a plea deal with the authorities, which saw him testify against members of the Nine Trey Gangsters, a gang he had been associated with. 6ix9ine was sentenced to two years in prison in December 2019, but was granted early release in April 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
#4: Young Thug
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With such a distinctive style, in rap and fashion, Young Thug has continually pushed the envelope since he burst onto the scene in 2014. While his penmanship has garnered him awards and acclaim, it also became part of a criminal case that was built against him. In May of 2022, Thug was arrested, alongside several other members of his YSL Records imprint, including fellow rapper Gunna. Thug was brought up on racketeering and gang-related charges, and his indictment highlighted lyrics from songs such as “Anybody” and “Slatty” as evidence of criminal activity. Grammy-nominated rapper Gunna was also indicted, in part, based on his lyrics, and pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering.
#3: Mac Phipps
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Back in 2000, Mac Phipps was a rising artist in the Louisiana hip-hop scene, with three studio albums under his belt. Phipps was arrested and charged with second-degree murder that year after a young man was shot at a nightclub where he was set to perform. With no physical evidence linking him to the crime, prosecutors largely relied on eyewitness testimony and Phipps’ own lyrics during his trial. This helped secure a guilty verdict and landed Phipps a 30-year prison sentence. In 2021, the rapper was granted clemency by the Governor of Louisiana and subsequently regained his freedom after serving nearly twenty years in prison.
#2: Tay-K
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Texas rapper Taymor McIntyre, better known by his stage name Tay-K, was still a teenager when he landed his breakout hit “The Race”. The song was recorded after he escaped from house arrest and fled from Texas to the town of Elizabeth in New Jersey. Tay-K had been apprehended by authorities in July 2016 for his role in a home invasion and robbery that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Ethan Walker. Following a nationwide manhunt, Tay-K was recaptured by police after three months on the run and found guilty of murder and aggravated robbery. During his sentencing, prosecutors introduced the lyrics and music video to his song “The Race” as key evidence. The rapper was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
#1: Ra Diggs
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In October 2010, New York rapper Ra Diggs was arrested and charged with a slew of crimes including racketeering, drug trafficking and murder. Authorities alleged that Diggs was the leader of the Murderous Mad Dogs, a group affiliated with the infamous street gang The Bloods. Prosecutors portrayed Diggs as a ruthless criminal who dealt drugs and reigned terror on his community. In addition to dozens of witness testimonies, Diggs’ graphic rap lyrics and music videos were also presented as evidence to the jury, as they were alleged to be “literal recountings of his crimes”. The jury sided with the prosecution and convicted Diggs of 21 federal charges, sending him to prison for the rest of his life.
