#PROTECTBLACKART: AN OPEN LETTER

Warner Music Group, artists and other industry leaders have released an open letter titled "Protect Black Art" to urge legislators to curb the use of creative expression as evidence in court proceedings. Placed in The New York Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the letter calls specifically for "an end to the racially discriminatory practice of treating rap lyrics as confessions."

SMG, UMG, AEG Presents, TIDAL, Live Nation, SoundCloud, 2 Chainz, Drake, 21 Savage, 50 Cent, Megan Thee Stallion, Lainey Wilson, Alicia Keys, Jack Harlow, the Recording Academy, the RIAA and the Black Music Action Coalition are among the dozens of signatories.

The missive reads in part, "Beyond the obvious disregard for free speech and creative expression protected by the First Amendment, this racially targeted practice punishes already marginalized communities and their stories of family, struggle, survival and triumph." The full letter appears below.

This action comes roughly four weeks after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law AB-2799, which limits the use of rap lyrics at trial. Similar bills are under consideration in New York and New Jersey, as is the RAP (Restoring Artistic Protection) Act introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson and Rep. Jamaal Bowman in the U.S. Congress.