Apparently, in California, you can be hit with life in prison just for rapping about gang activity (yes, we realize the irony here).
San Diego rapper Tiny Doo may unfortunately bear the brunt of this fact, according to a recent report by a local ABC news station. Tiny, whose real name is Brandon Duncan, is facing attempted murder charges along with 14 other gang members for a series of shootings. Duncan, who has a squeaky clean criminal record, has not been connected to any of them. Prosecutors, however, are looking to throw the book at Duncan by enacting a state law that allows for the prosecution of gang members if they benefit from the crimes of other gang members. What is his benefit from the shootings, you ask? Selling rap records.
Whether you have heard of Tiny Doo or not, Duncan’s bars are being pegged as a way in which he has taken advantage of his gang’s shootings. The prosecution argues that the street cred gained by Duncan and his cohorts have led to more popularity (?) for the rapper.
“It’s shocking. He has no criminal record. Nothing in his lyrics say go out and commit a crime. Nothing in his lyrics reference these shootings, yet they are holding him liable for conspiracy. There are huge constitutional issues,” Duncan’s lawyer said.
Hearings are scheduled to resume this week to determine if Duncan will go to trial. Watch the news report below.
