Rap Artist Faces Prosecution For Gang Activity; Prosecutors Say His Lyrics Demonstrate Conspiracy
Rapper Tiny Doo (real name Brandon Duncan) is facing prosecution under California’s Penal Code Section 182.5 which reads
Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) or (b) of Section 182, any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 186.22, with knowledge that its members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 186.22, and who willfully promotes, furthers, assists, or benefits from any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang is guilty of conspiracy to commit that felony and may be punished as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 182.
At issue are the lyrics to some of Mr. Duncan’s songs, which prosecutors allege demonstrate that he promotes and/or benefits from gang activity. Mr. Duncan says that all he is doing is engaging in artistic speech, “painting a picture of urban street life.”