Fat Joe says he’s lied in “95 per cent” of his songs, defends Young Thug in RICO trial “travesty”

nme.com:

Fat Joe has claimed he has lied in “95 per cent” of his songs, criticising the use of Young Thug‘s lyrics in his current RICO trial.The rapper joined Gayle King on CNN in a discussion of Young Thug’s trial, who was charged with several felonies alongside Gunna including two gang-related charges in 2022.

Both men have denied their charges, with Young Thug having his bail denied three times. Gunna was released from prison in December 2022 after entering a negotiated plea; Young Thug’s case is still ongoing.In November this year, it was ruled that Young Thug’s lyrics could be used in his trial subject to certain conditions.

The ruling was criticised by Young Thug’s lawyer as “targeting the right to free speech”. The use of rap lyrics in criminal cases has also been criticised by Songwriters of North America’s Dina LaPolt as “a convenient way to inject racial bias and confusion into the criminal justice process.”Now, Fat Joe has come to defend Young Thug and speaking out against the use of his lyrics in the trial, calling it “horrible” and “a travesty”: “I’ve been rapping professionally for 30 years — I’ve lied in almost 95 percent of my songs.”“I’m being honest,” he added. “I write like I feel that day.

I’m just being creative. You couldn’t build a jail high enough for the lyrics I’ve said on songs which are all untrue.”Joe continued: “What I am is I’m a family man, someone who gives back to his community all the time.