You may not have heard of rapper Karim Ali Howard, but the issue that his case is raising in Pennsylvania is likely to become something you’ll be hearing about before long.
The rapper is charged in Pennsylvania with drug trafficking. And prosecutors in Montgomery County say they plan to use his own lyrics against him in court.
Authorities say they seized cocaine, drug packing materials and drug records from the home the rapper shared with his mother.
Prosecutors say they also recovered rap CDs at the home, featuring lyrics like: “I’m going to sell coke until you call me pope.”
A prosecutor says the lyrics can be used in court against the rapper because it shows his intent.
A spokesman for an association of criminal defense attorneys say if the rap lyrics are used against Howard in court, it could be a violation of the rapper’s right to free speech.
