And jurors who are perfectly `` reasonable '' will convict , even when the defendant is merely following the conventions of a musical genre that , like horror films or gangster novels , should n't be confused with reality . Supreme refers to a case involving rap lyrics used to prosecute a 28-year - old man . Authors say prosecutors increasingly use rap lyrics to sway juries . The key issue is whether the lyrics conveys a ` ` true threat '' of violence , they say .
Supreme refers to a case involving rap lyrics used to prosecute a 28-year - old man . Authors say prosecutors increasingly use rap lyrics to sway juries . The key issue is whether the lyrics conveys a ` ` true threat '' of violence , they say .