U.S. rapper faces life in prison for album cover

Daniel Nussbaum
Breitbart
Thu, 20 Nov 2014 21:00 UTC

Like countless artists before him, San Diego-based rapper Brandon Duncan's new album features a picture of a gun and bullets on its front cover. However Duncan, who raps under the name Tiny Doo, could be the first artist to go to jail for his choice of album art.

Duncan faces 25-years-to-life on gang conspiracy charges brought against him this week, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Prosecutors will reportedly look to prove that the album art "willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang."

"That gang" refers to the San Diego Lincoln Park gang, of which Duncan is a member, according to San Diego police. According to the Times, at least 15 Lincoln Park gang members have been charged in a recent string of shootings in the city.

Yet Duncan's attorney, Brian Watkins, told the paper that his client is innocent and the evidence against him insufficient.

"It's no different than Snoop Dogg or Tupac," Watkins said. "It's telling the story of street life. If we are trying to criminalize artistic expression, what's next, Brian DePalma and Al Pacino?"

"It's shocking," Watkins told CounterCurrentNews. "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 is able to be charged with gang conspiracy under a seldom-invoked 2000 law that allows for those charges based on "promoting" or encouraging felonious gang activity. Duncan's attorney called the charges "absolutely unconstitutional," and promised a fight.

Deputy District Attorney Anthony Campagna disagrees.

"We're not just talking about an album of anything, of love songs," Campagna reportedly told the judge in court. "There is a revolver with bullets" on the album cover, he noted.

Duncan is currently in county jail in lieu of $1 million bail, with his trial reportedly set to begin December 4. If convicted, he faces 25-years-to-life in prison.

Reader Comments

Mandatory Intellectomy · 2014-11-23T22:58:23Z

Well, so if the US Congress openly dispays symbols of fascism, can we send them all to jail for life? [Link]

carefix · 2014-11-24T00:35:27Z

Snitches

Hey! You sqealed on lots of other "terrorists"!

glardu · 2014-11-24T05:24:13Z

The gangs in the black and white cars dont like competition it seems. So...the NRA is the next gang to be targeted?

Jean Michel · 2014-11-24T19:23:18Z

Whatever the actual case may be, freedom of expression is still a right in this country.

I will say that the glorification of violence is not a good thing, but he has the right to express himself without fear of reprisal.

HowToBe · 2014-11-24T21:56:05Z

Putin's idea looks better.

[Link]
Basically, if you want to fight extremism, strengthen and educate communities rather than terrorizing and dividing them. Makes sense.

Quoting Putin:
"This should not be piecemeal involvement, but a unified front, so to speak, which should act to prevent extremism, jointly educate people, including via the Internet, and create conditions for stronger peace and accord in society.

Once we achieve such coordination in every region, in each municipality, then we will have overall results in countering extremism. People would know that on their territory, there are authorities and there is a proactive and concerned society and **together they can effectively resist any manifestations of extremism and maintain calm and stability.**

In such conditions of trust and support, it is much easier to create an atmosphere of renouncing extremist propaganda. At the same time, the recognition by the citizens of the danger posed by extremism guarantees the efficiency of the measures taken by the authorities.

... I would like to reiterate that one of our key priorities is to **breed public rejection of and civic immunity** to the dissemination of extremist and radical ideas. For this purpose, we must unite the efforts of the authorities, society and all state and social agencies. "