Tiny Doo could face 25 years in prison after he is charged with 'promoting shootings' with No Safety album lyrics
The rapper, real name Brandon Duncan, is currently held on bail
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Your support makes all the difference.Rapper Tiny Doo has been implicated in nine California shootings solely because of his album, No Safety.
The musician – whose real name is Brandon Duncan – is not accused of providing guns or being present at the shootings. Instead, it is his music that is causing him to stand trial on 4 December. Until then he's being held on $1million bail.
The No Safety album cover features a gun and bullets. Prosecutors claim that Duncan “willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang”, arguing that he benefited from the shootings as it allegedly led to increased album sales.
San Diego police maintain that Duncan is a gang member, who uses the moniker TD.
“We're not just talking about a CD of anything, of love songs. We're talking about a CD (cover)… There is a revolver with bullets,” said Deputy District Attorney Anthony Campagna.
The rapper’s lawyer, Brian Watkins, disputes that the album perpetrates violence in any way, raising the issue of artistic expression.
“It’s no different than Snoop Dogg or Tupac,” said Watkins. “It’s telling the story of street life,” with gritty details and obscenity-filled language.
“If we are trying to criminalise artistic expression, what’s next, Brian De Palma and Al Pacino?”
“Every drug gangster loves Scarface. Does it encourage violence?”
If Duncan is convicted he could serve a life sentence of 25 years in prison.
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