James Broadnax, 37, has spent over 16 years on death row in Texas for a double murder committed when he was 19. His execution is scheduled for 30 April, and his case has drawn attention due to the prosecution's heavy reliance on his teenage rap lyrics to secure the death sentence.
In 2009, Broadnax and his cousin were convicted of murdering two white men, Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan, during a robbery in Garland, Texas. During the sentencing phase, prosecutors presented 40 pages of Broadnax's rap lyrics, selectively highlighting violent passages to argue that he posed a threat of 'future dangerousness' under Texas law. The state described his writings as evidence of a 'gang mentality' and labelled him a 'psychopathic killer'.
Broadnax's defence emphasised his abusive childhood, lack of prior violent offences, and his youth at the time of the crime. However, the jury requested to see the notebooks twice during deliberations before sentencing him to death. Critics argue that the use of rap lyrics as evidence is a violation of free expression and disproportionately affects Black defendants.
Kevin Liles, a music industry executive and founder of the non-profit Free Our Art, has condemned the practice. 'My creativity shouldn't be a crime, my art shouldn't be used as evidence,' he said. The organisation advocates for protecting artists from having their lyrics used against them in court.
Broadnax continues to write poetry on death row, a practice he describes as a coping mechanism. His case has reignited debate over the criminal justice system's treatment of artistic expression, particularly within hip-hop culture.
