When rapper Antavio Johnson wrote the song “Kill Me A Cop” in his teen years and uploaded it onto a Myspace page, the possibility of future consequences was certainly not expected. Now, years later, Johnson is facing a two-year sentence for the aggressive lyrics he used in the song.
According to authorities, the 20-year-old rapper expressed his desire to kill two Lakeland, Florida officials in the song, which detectives found while researching gang-related activity on Myspace.com. On the track, Johnson calls the two officers out by name–one male and one female– and claims that they had harassed him during an earlier incident. In the song, Johnson announces, “I’ma kill me a cop one day,” and threatens to shoot the officers in the “dome” with a “glock” if they ever “get my timing wrong.”
Already serving time for a probation violation related to cocaine use, the legitimacy of Johnson’s added two years in prison is being questioned by the public. Many wonder if Johnson’s sentencing is unconstitutional and if it goes against the right to free speech. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is backing Johnson, maintained that “We [shouldn’t] punish bad thoughts in America.” However, not all speech is protected under the Constitution. Florida state law deems it a third-degree felony to harm or threaten to harm public servants, their families, or people they care about.
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Discontent with police officers, however, is nothing new in the rap genre. More than 20 years ago, N.W.A. boldly challenged authorities with their protest record “Fuck Tha Police” while Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Deep Cover” years later talked explicity about murdering police officials.
Previously, Johnson could not obtain a lawyer, but he has recently obtained one, as well as the support of the ACLU.
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