Hip-hop stars file SCOTUS amicus brief supporting student who was suspended for rap song
Big Boi. Aija Lehtonen / Shutterstock.com
Several hip-hop artists are filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case of a high-school senior suspended for posting a rap song outside of school that appeared to threaten two coaches.
Among the stars supporting the Mississippi student’s First Amendment suit are T. I., Big Boi and Killer Mike, the New York Times reports. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the school district in an en banc opinion in August.
“The government punished a young man for his art—and, more disturbing, for the musical genre by which he chose to express himself,” the brief says. It assures the justices that despite his name, Killer Mike “has never actually killed anyone.”
The student seeking review of his case is Taylor Bell, who raps as “T-Bizzle.” His rap song, posted on Facebook and YouTube, accuses the “coacha roaches” of sexual misconduct with students. His alleged threats included:
• Run up on T-Bizzle / I’m going to hit you with my Rueger.
• You f—— with the wrong one / going to get a pistol down your mouth / Boww.
• Middle fingers up if you want to cap that n—- / middle fingers up / he get no mercy n—.
The 5th Circuit said the rap recording threatened, harassed and intimidated the coaches, and the posting could have been reasonably foreseen to cause disruption at school.
The case is Bell v. Itawamba County School Board.
