Are Rap Lyrics Evidence of Murder? The Case of Antwain “Twain Gotti” Steward Posted by Nathan S. on 08/01/13 | Filed under Opinion

On May 10, 2007, Brian Dean and Christopher Horton were hanging out on the Horton's porch in Newport News, Virginia, when witnesses say a young man approached and opened fire. Shot in the chest, Horton was killed instantly, while Dean died the next day from a gun shot wound to the head.

For nearly five years the case went unsolved until police re-opened the case and shortly after arrested Antwain Steward, a known gang member and rapper known as "Twain Gotti". According to court documents, it was the lyrics to one of Seward's songs, "Ride Out", that lead police to issue an arrest warrant for him.



"Listen, walk to your boy and I approached him, 12 midnight on his traphouse porch and everybody saw when I fuckin choked him. But nobody saw when I fuckin smoked him, roped him, sharpened up the shank then I poked him, 357 Smith & Wesson [unintelligible] scoped him, roped him, had me crackin up so I joked him, it is betweezy six feet ova, told ya fuck with my money I'll roast ya."

I feel the need to pause here and make it clear that it's unclear just how much police considered Seward's lyrics when considered him a suspect for Horton and Dean's murders. The media essentially makes it sound like the cops conducted their investigation on Rap Genius, stopped when they found lyrics that seemed to describe the murders, and then arrested the corresponding rapper.

In reality, I'm willing to bet the truth is far more complicated and that "Ride Out" was only one piece of evidence among many, and almost definitely the most important piece. Although, in fairness, I'm basing that purely on the knowledge I've gleaned from watching nearly every episode of "First 48". Anyone with any actual knowledge of the law or criminal investigations, please, by all means, jump in.

Regardless, even is Seward is found guilty. using rap lyrics as evidence in court feels shaky at best, and a violation of the 1st Amendment at worst. Even at its most basic, rap is an art form, and comes along with all the exaggerations, obfuscations, truths and lies that go along with any art form. If Rick Ross' lyrics were truth, he'd be the most notorious drug kingpin since...well...the actual Rick Ross. If Johnny Cash's lyrics are to be believed, he should have been locked up for life after shooting a man in Reno just to watch him die.

At the same time, tell the families of Dean and Horton that the prosecution shouldn't use every piece of evidence it can find to convict the alleged killer of their sons. There are no easy answers here, but there is a discussion to be had. And while we debate the lines between rap and the truth, between hip-hop and the legal system, two more black men are dead and they won't be the last, with or without rap.