The Restoring Artistic Protection Act (Rap Act) was reintroduced to congress today (4/27).

The federal bill was introduced in Congress by Representatives Hank Johnson and Jamaal Bowman last year, but the bill has not yet become law. If passed, the RAP Act would limit the use of lyrics and creative expression as evidence in court, a common practice that disproportionately affects the rap community.

The bill is the first of its kind at the federal level, and is necessary to upholding every creator’s right to artistic expression. Representatives Jackson and Bowman held a press conference today that was live streamed by the Recording Academy. The congressmen were joined by members of the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), the Recording Academy, the Black Music Collective , SAG-AFTRA and other free speech advocates.

“Prosecutors, judges, and juries have decided that rap lyrics are autobiographical, they're like diaries,” Erik Nielson, co-author of Rap Lyrics on Trial told Rock The Bells earlier this year. “No other fictional artform is treated that way. And there are plenty of other genres that are replete with violence, whether it's gangster movies, novels, hardcore punk, or horror."

An ABC News documentary, Rap Trap: Hip-Hop On Trial focuses on Young Thug and Gunna's YSL RICO case where both rappers were arrested on RICO charges back in May 2022. The documentary is available for streaming on Hulu.

Check out the RAP Act live stream above.