A rapper in Montgomery County Pennsylvania who
is charged with drug trafficking may see his own lyrics used against him in
his drug trial, according to prosecutors. Karim Ali
Howard, 20, of Worcester, PA is being held on $125,000 bail. Earlier
this month, authorities seized cocaine, drug paraphernalia and over $90,000
from the house the rapper shared with his mother. Officials confiscated compact
discs and recordings by Howard, who told authorities his occupation was a rap
artist.
According to prosecutors, Howard raps on one
track: "I’m going to sell coke until you call me pope/do dirt until the
lord tries to stop me/It’s gonna take hundreds of bullets just to drop me."
The prosecution feels that the lyrics on his
CD paint a vivid picture of Howard’s reality-that he was a drug dealer. If the
rap lyrics are used against him in court, it could be a violation of his free
speech according to various watchdog groups.
This isn’t the first time a rappers lyrics have
been used in court. C-BO was put behind bars for violating his probation because
his album Til My Casket Drops, allegedly promoted a gang lifestyle.