Music industry leaders bring 'Protect Black Art' movement to Capitol Hill
Top music industry leaders joined lawmakers on Capitol Hill to back a federal bill that would limit the use of rap lyrics by federal prosecutors in criminal proceedings. Top music industry leaders joined lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Thursday to back a federal bill that would limit the use of rap lyrics by federal prosecutors in criminal proceedings. The Restoring Artistic Protection Act, which was co-sponsored by Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), was first introduced last year but was re-introduced on Thursday in a press conference that began with remarks from President of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. Mason said that the bill not only seeks to protect hip-hop artists or musicians, but is also intended to protect the creative expression of all artists and creators across musical disciplines. "Our mission, our responsibility is to protect creative rights," Mason said. "Silencing creative expression is a violation against all artists in all ...