Young Thug and Gunna comment on their arrest on RICO charges

completemusicupdate.com:

Rapper Gunna has issued a statement about his arrest last month – and current incarceration – in relation to charges made under the US Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organisations Act.

He insists that he is innocent of all the charges, adding that the way he is being portrayed by prosecutors is “ugly and untrue”.Gunna and fellow rapper Young Thug were among 28 people arrested in the US state of Georgia last month accused of involvement in a gang that allegedly committed murders, shootings and carjackings.The arrests have put the spotlight on the so called ‘Rap On Trial’ campaign.

Prosecutors in this case plan to use music and videos released by Gunna and Young Thug as evidence against them. Critics argue that this is a common practice when rappers are accused of crimes in the US, but such evidence is often very misleading, and its use in criminal actions usually breaches the free speech rights of the accused.In New York State new legislation is being considered that would restrict the use of a defendant’s music as evidence in criminal actions.

And last week the bosses of 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records US – both of which work with Gunna, Young Thug and the latter’s Young Stoner Life label – called on the music community to support similar legal reforms across the US, initially by signing a Protect Black Art petition they have set up online.300 Entertainment CEO Kevin Liles and Atlantic Records US COO Julie Greenwald wrote in an open letter: “Currently in Georgia, multiple artists belonging to Young Stoner Life Records – including celebrated artists like Young Thug and Gunna – are facing more than 50 allegations, including RICO charges which claim the record label is a criminal gang.