Atlanta rappers TI, Big Boi, and Killer Mike are prepared to help out a Mississippi high-school rapper who was suspended from school for one of his songs. Hit the jump for more.
The ATL artist are urging the Supreme Court to hear an appeal from Taylor Bell, a high-school senior who was suspended and sent to a different school because of a song he put on YouTube that people complained about over the lyrical content. Many feel that due to the First Amendment, Taylor cannot be punished for making music that caused no harm.
The three rappers put out a statement about the situation.
The government punished a young man for his art – and, more disturbing, for the musical genre by which he chose to express himself. Following a long line of rappers before him, Bell saw an opportunity to confront injustice.
Killer Mike, who recently sat down with presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, went into more detail about the situation.
It probably is worth noting that he has never actually killed anyone. Anyone who is learned in law is capable of separating art and lyrics, whether you agree with them or not, and actual human behavior. I think the courts understand it when it’s Johnny Cash. I think they understand it when it’s Robert Nesta Marley.
Punishing rappers for lyrics but not to artist in other genres, Killer Mike feels that it “persecutes poor young men based on their class and color.”
It is great to see rappers helping out a young black man, and protecting the amazing genre known as hip-hop. Hopefully they can make a difference for Taylor Bell’s case.
