Travis Scott urges court to halt execution of man whose rap lyrics were used as evidence

Travis Scott, Young Thug, Killer Mike and more are urging the Supreme Court to halt the execution of a man whose rap lyrics were used as evidence against him.

Artists and scholars have come together to petition a death penalty sentencing made by a Texas court in 2009 against a Black man named James Garfield Broadnax, who was just 19 at the time.

Broadnax was convicted of killing two people during a robbery attempt. The jury, who were notably predominantly white, were shown 40 pages of the accused’s handwritten rap lyrics as “evidence”.

The jury then made the decision to sentence Broadnax to death, instead of a life sentence without parole (per The New York Times). His execution has now been set for April 30, 2026, more than 17 years after he was sentenced.

Artists including T.I., Fat Joe, D-Nice and N.O.R.E., as well as organisations including Art Not Evidence and the Black Music Action Coalition are urging for the decision to be overturned, arguing that the prosecutors’ conduct was “particularly egregious”.

“The State urged the jury to consider the lyrics as literal rather than metaphoric expressions and to interpret them as self-admissions of Broadnax’s intent to commit future violent crimes,” the petition reads.

“During his trial, the State presented a racially charged case filled with stereotypes and anti-Black rhetoric. Broadnax was found guilty and sentenced to death by a nearly all-White jury.”

The petition, which was filed in February, calls for a ‘Writ of Certiorari’, urging for the court to lower its penalty. It argues that the state gravely “misused” Broadnax’s artistic expression.

Humanitarian association Sant'Egidio recently put out an urgent appeal to save Broadnax from execution, sharing a statement from his wife, Tiana, reading: “I will continue to report, to present evidence, to prove and speak the truth. James will continue to fight for his life.”

Read the petition here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X