Entertainment
Rap on Trial: Brooklyn Shooting Conviction Reversed Because DA Cited Defendant’s Song Lyrics
Brooklyn prosecutors shouldn’t have used a rap song as evidence in a murder trial, a New York state appeals court says, ruling that the lyrics have “inherent ambiguity” and the defendant was “deprived of a fair trial.”
In a decision Tuesday (Sept. 23), New York’s Appellate Division ordered a new trial for Idrissa Reaves, who was convicted of aiding in the 2016 murder of Nashon Henry. The grounds? That prosecutors had improperly cited his jailhouse rap song to help secure a guilty verdict.
The reversal centered on testimony from a supposed “slang expert” who had explained Reaves’ lyrics to jurors. The appeals court said the man had not been qualified to do so — and that he had conveniently interpreted each part of the song to support the state’s charges.
“The defendant was deprived of a fair trial based upon the improper admission of the rap song through a witness who was unqualified to offer expert opinion testimony regarding the meaning of the lyrics,” Justice Barry E. Warhit wrote, before adding that the expert’s interpretations always “ultimately evolved into opinions fitting precisely into the People’s factual theory of the case.”
The ruling is the latest in a years-long debate over whether rap lyrics should be used as evidence in criminal trials. Critics argue the practice threatens free speech by treating creative expression as a literal confession; others say it can improperly sway juries by tapping into biases against young black men. California enacted a law in 2022 restricting the practice; New York came close to doing the same but has not yet done so.
Though the current case does not involve a major artist, huge names in hip-hop have faced criminal prosecutions involving their music. Young Thug faced a high-profile gang case in Atlanta that focused heavily on his songs; Lil Durk is currently facing a case in which prosecutors initially cited his lyrics.
Reaves was charged over a fatal 2016 shooting in Brooklyn, in which prosecutors say he served as the getaway driver. While awaiting trial at Rikers Island, he authored a rap song that he performed over recorded telephone calls, which featured lines like “Boy always f—d up but he wanna drill a n—-.”
At trial, prosecutors wanted to use the song’s lyrics to show that Reaves knew the shooting was going to take place, a key requirement of proving that he committed a crime by aiding the shooter. And a judge ruled that they could introduce them as evidence — but only if they secured an expert who could testify about what the lyrics meant.
When the government couldn’t locate such an expert, the judge told prosecutors they had “ten minutes” to “get somebody” to be one. So they quickly turned to an investigator at the Brooklyn district attorney’s office without specific expertise on rap lyrics. The investigator had some training in “gang lingo,” the appeals court said, even though “this case did not involve gangs.”
On the stand, the witness “admitted to guessing” about the meaning of lyrics, conceded that songs are “not always literal,” and acknowledged multiple interpretations that “reflected the lyrics’ inherent ambiguity,” the appeals court said. But in his final opinion, he “invariably inculpated the defendant” in ways that were “in perfect accord with the People’s theory of the case.”
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The appeals court nodded to the ongoing legal debate over rap lyrics as evidence, saying that some courts have “cautioned” against it because it’s “difficult to distinguish between reality and fantasy.” However, the court added, many judges have still found it appropriate if a genuine expert can put the words in context.
In Reaves’ case, Justice Warhit said prosecutors had clearly not done so. And the supposed expert had gone even further than just speculating, the court said — including suggesting that the lyrics referenced crimes with which Reaves had not even been charged, like reading a lyric about “swipe” to mean using stolen credit cards.
“There was no charge in this case relating to the illegal use or possession of credit cards, and this testimony was entirely irrelevant to the issue of whether the defendant knew the shooter intended to kill the victim,” the appeals court wrote.
The ruling overturns the conviction and sends the case back to a lower court for a new trial. A spokesman at the Brooklyn DA’s office told Billboard they were “reviewing the decision.”
Taylor Swift and fiancé Travis Kelce might be “End Game,” but according to her longtime friend Ed Sheeran, even he was in the dark about their recent happy announcement.
During a chat with Andy Cohen ahead of the four-time Grammy winner’s performance for SiriusXM’s Small Stage Series held Wednesday (Sept. 24) at New York City’s Irving Plaza, Sheeran revealed how he learned about the couple’s engagement, which was announced on Aug. 26.
During a series of rapid-fire questions from the TV personality, the singer had a one-word answer for how he found out about the proposal: “Instagram.”
A surprised Cohen responded, “Instagram?! Like everyone else? You didn’t even get a DM in advance?” To which Sheeran replied with a simple shake of his head and a “no.”
The singer also replied in the negative when the Radio Andy host asked whether he had heard Swift’s upcoming new album, The Life of a Showgirl, yet, and whether he had received a save-the-date for the wedding.
While he may not yet have a save-the-date, it is bound to come, as the two musicians have been good friends and collaborators for more than 10 years. The two Grammy winners first collaborated in 2012 on “Everything Has Changed” off her album Red, which peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. They’ve since gone on to work together on multiple songs together, including “The Joker and the Queen,” “Run (Taylor’s Version)” and the aforementioned “End Game,” all of which landed on the Hot 100.
He also was her supporting act on the Red tour, with the two often performing together during the 2013 trek. Sheeran also shared how close the two are during an April chat with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast, with the discussion coming while he reflected on digging up his old cellphones and going through text messages the two stars exchanged.
“I lived in Nashville, and she lived in Nashville, and we used to fly to and from the gigs together and do all sorts of … I don’t know,” he told Cooper. “I literally spent almost every single day with her for about six months, so I think that period of time [was my favorite].”
He also shared on the podcast that he sees Swift about four times a year now. “Like, instead of catching up the whole time, we have a proper sit-down, six-hour catchups,” he said at the time. “I think that’s like a really nice way to do it.”
Watch Sheeran chat with Cohen about how he learned about Swift’s engagement above.
Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson and Post Malone will lead the pack at Stagecoach 2026 as headliners when the famed country fest returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., on April 24-26.
The stacked lineup of performers for the Goldenvoice-produced Stagecoach will also feature Bailey Zimmerman, Riley Green, Brooks & Dunn, Ella Langley, Red Clay Strays, Warren Zeiders, Nate Smith, Sam Barber, Gavin Adcock, Wyatt Flores, Hudson Westbrook and Cameron Whitcomb.
Journey, Pitbull, BigXthaPlug and Counting Crows will perform at the Mustang Stage, which is being reimagined for 2026 and provides a space for the after-dark performance moments that have become an essential part of Stagecoach. Boot Barn will serve as the presenting sponsor of the new Mustang Stage.
Johnson said in a statement, “I’ll never forget the first time I got the call to play Stagecoach. We were on one of the smaller stages and I remember wondering if anyone wouldeven know our songs. Now here we are invited back to headline the Mane Stage. What a ride. I hope y’all bring the energy … because it’s gonna get Western.”
Wilson also reflected on her roots with the festival in her statement. “My first Stagecoach was in 2022 on the SiriusXM Stage at 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon,” she shared. “Look how far we’ve come y’all! I’m honored to headline this year. This is a career highlight and I can’t wait to see everyone there.”
Post Malone enthused in his statement: “Had a hell of a time at Stagecoach in 2024 alongside so many incredible artists and friends. Can’t wait to be back next year!”
Zimmerman added, “I played my first Stagecoach in 2023. Since then, it’s become a tradition, and I somehow was lucky enough to get to come back in ‘24 with Morgan Wallen and then in ‘25 with Luke Combs. Coming back in 2026 is unbelievable, and I’m so thankful to whoever made the decision to let me come back. I promise I won’t take my pants off this time … or maybe I will. See you soon, Stagecoach2026!”
Fan favorites Diplo’s HonkyTonk and Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse return for another year. New this year, Nashville’s Whiskey Jam will offer a new element to the Palomino Stage. Known for spotlighting rising artists in Nashville, Whiskey Jam will host special sets and curate afterhours sets at Stagecoach’s Palomino Stage.
Passes for the 2026 Stagecoach will go on sale beginning Thursday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. PT at on the festival’s website. Amazon Music returns as the livestream partner for a fourth year. Fans can watch livestreamed performances from artists on Twitch, Prime Video and Amazon Music’s app each day of the fest.
Find the full lineup below:
Adrien Nunez
Amos Lee
Avery Anna
Bailey Zimmerman
Bayker Blankenship
Benjamin Tod
BigXthaPlug
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters
Brandon Wisham
Braxton Keith
Brett Young
Brooks & Dunn
Bush
Cameron Whitcomb
Charles Wesley Godwin
Chase Matthew
Chase Rice
Cody Johnson
Corey Kent
Counting Crows
Diplo
Eli Young Band
Elizabeth Nichols
Ella Langley
Gabriella Rose
Gavin Adcock
Guy Fieri
Hannah McFarland
Hootie & the Blowfish
Hudson Westbrook
Ink
Jake Worthington
Josh Ross
Journey
Julia Cole
Kameron Marlowe
Kevin Smiley
Lainey Wilson
Lane Pittman
Larkin Poe
Little Big Town
Ludacris
Lyle Lovett
Marcus King Band
Max McNown
Michael Marcagi
Nate Smith
Neon Union
Noah Cyrus
Noah Rinker
Ole 60
Pitbull
Post Malone
Redferrin
Red Clay Strays
Riley Green
Ryan Hurd
S.G. Goodman
Sam Barber
Something Out West
Tayler Holder
Teddy Swims
The Road
The Wallflowers
Third Eye Blind
Treaty Oak Revival
Tyler Braden
Ty Myers
Warren Zeiders
Willow Avalon
Wyatt Flores
Wynonna Judd
Zach John King
Entertainment
‘Bottle Rockets’ Send Scotty McCreery and Hootie & the Blowfish to Top of Country Airplay Chart
Scotty McCreery and Hootie & the Blowfish climb two spots to the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated Oct. 4) with “Bottle Rockets,” marking unique feats for McCreery and the band’s frontman, Darius Rucker, as well as McCreery’s label, Triple Tigers.
How Hootie & the Blowfish’s Classic ‘Hold My Hand’ Came to Be on Scotty McCreery’s ‘Bottle Rockets’: ‘It Fit Like a Glove’
Scotty McCreery Calls His New Album ‘Rise & Fall’ His “Favorite Project” He’s Ever Done | ACM Awards 2024
The single, which features newly recorded vocals from Hootie & the Blowfish built around its classic song “Hold My Hand,” credits 11 writers, including McCreery, Rucker and producer Frank Rogers. It increased by 14% to 30.5 million audience impressions in the Sept. 19-25 tracking week, according to Luminate. “Hold My Hand” became Hootie’s first major hit, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.
The ascent of “Bottle Rockets” to No. 1 puts Rucker in exclusive company with Tyler Hubbard. They are now the only artists who have ruled Country Airplay both as solo acts and with a duo or group, dating to the chart’s start in January 1990. Hubbard scored 16 leaders as half of Florida Georgia Line before earning the first of three solo No. 1s with 2022’s “5 Foot 9.” Rucker has collected nine No. 1s as a solo artist, beginning with “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” in 2008.
Triple Tigers, launched in 2016 as a joint venture between Thirty Tigers, Sony Music Entertainment-owned distributor The Orchard and Triple 8 Management, also notches a milestone. Directly following Russell Dickerson’s two-week reign with “Happen to Me,” “Bottle Rockets” gives the label its first successive Country Airplay No. 1s. To date, the imprint has powered 11 singles to the top, six by McCreery and five by Dickerson.
Meanwhile, “Bottle Rockets” joins such Country Airplay No. 1s that interpolate prior hits as Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” his 2022 leader that reimagines Jo Dee Messina’s 1996 breakthrough single, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
For the 31-year-old McCreery, “Bottle Rockets” is his first Country Airplay leader since “Damn Strait,” which spent three weeks at No. 1 in 2022. He wraps his quickest trip to the top spot: 20 weeks, nearly halving his previous fastest coronation (37 weeks for “This Is It” in 2018-19).
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