Rap music has been used against criminal defendants since the genre took hold in the 1980s and its use has only increased in recent years. Some states are trying to limit the practice.

An upcoming execution in Texas has gained the attention of prominent rappers like Travis Scott and T.I. for the questions it raises about the place rap lyrics have in the courtroom and how justice is meted out to Black defendants.

James Broadnax, 37, is set to be executed by lethal injection on Thursday, April 30, for the 2008 double murder of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler, two producers of Christian music killed during a robbery outside their studio in the Dallas suburb of Garland.

Broadnax’s case is gaining national attention for what his attorneys say was an unfair trial that saw prosecutors eliminate almost every potential Black juror and use Broadnax’s own rap lyrics against him. The result, defense attorneys argue in a recent U.S. Supreme Court filing, transformed Broadnax’s “artistic expression into a death warrant.”

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed in the Supreme Court last month, rapper Travis Scott argues that rap music has been increasingly used as evidence against defendants “in a manner that exploits and perpetuates stereotypes.”

“Because rap lyrics are art, they are not literal,” the brief said. “And introduction of rap lyrics as evidence against criminal defendants invites jurors to transfer their opinions about the genre onto the individual before them, risking punishment for expression unrelated to the crime at issue.”

Rapper Killer Mike echoed those thoughts in a similar brief filed in the case. Other powerful people in the entertainment industry who joined in that filing include rappers Young Thug and Fat Joe, record executive Kevin Liles, and actor/comedian Anthony Anderson.

Texas prosecutors are defending both Broadnax’s prosecution and the use of his rap lyrics to show jurors his “cold, flippant attitude toward the murders and the judicial process.”

“The State saved the jailhouse lyric, written while Broadnax was awaiting trial, for the punishment phase − to demonstrate to the jury Broadnax’s outrageous and extreme lack of empathy, regret, remorse, and accountability,” prosecutors say.

Here’s what you need to know about the case, Broadnax’s chances at a reprieve from execution, and how the victims’ family members feel about the issues being raised.

Free speech: How new laws could save rappers from their own lyrics

What was James Broadnax convicted of?

On June 19, 2008, a bicyclist came upon the bodies of 26-year-old Stephen Swan and 28-year-old Matthew Butler outside of their recording studio in Garland Texas just before 1 a.m., court records say.

Later that day, court records say that Broadnax and his cousin, Demarius Cummings, went to a family member’s home in Swan’s car, and that Broadnax displayed Swan’s driver’s license and bragged that he “hit a lick,” or committed a robbery. The two cousins left in the car, and a family friend soon after called the police when she saw news reports about the double murder.

Police pulled Broadnax over later that night in Swan’s car 150 miles away in Texarcana and arrested him. After police returned Broadnax to Dallas, he confessed to the murders in multiple interviews with members of the news media, court records say.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos finally made a pick in the NFL draft, selecting versatile Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim with the second pick of the third round Friday night.

The Broncos, who were the last team to make a splash in the offseason — by trading their first-round draft pick for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle — had snaps available for rookies at two spots: defensive tackle following John Franklin-Myers’ departure in free agency and middle linebacker after they’d jettisoned Dre Greenlaw after one injury-filled season.

With all their second-round targets off the board Friday night, they traded the 62nd-overall pick to the Buffalo Bills for a third-rounder (No. 66) and a sixth-rounder (No. 182) Saturday.

The Broncos, who reached the AFC championship in Bo Nix’s second season, didn’t have a first-round pick this year after trading the 30th overall selection to the Miami Dolphins for Waddle, the only big move Denver made this offseason following their unusually quiet free agency.

The Broncos have been on the sideline for Round 1 three times in the last five seasons, but they hit on second-rounders Nik Bonitto (No. 64 in 2022) and Marvin Mims Jr. (No. 63 in 2023).

“The good news is we have experience with this,” general manager George Paton said last week about not picking until Day 2.

Onyedim spent four seasons at Iowa State, where he was a nose tackle, and played one season as the three-technique penetrator at Texas A&M, which boosted his draft stock.

“At Iowa State, it was a 3-3-5 scheme … he wasn’t penetrating, he wasn’t rushing as much,” Paton said Friday night. “We got to see him do that more at A&M, which he’ll be doing here.”

Onyedim said he was excited to play again with former Hawkeyes defender Eyioma Uwazurike in Denver and in Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s standout system.

“Oh man, it’s going to be a blessing,” Onyedim said, “being able to learn from the best. They’ve got a really good D-line. I’m excited. I’m ready to go, man.”

Onyedim is considered a good chemistry prospect for a locker room that notably lacks troublemakers.

“The mindset’s just to learn, don’t be no arrogant person,” he said. “Sit back, learn from the vets.”

The Broncos will be busy Saturday with seven selections, including the eighth and 11th picks in Round 4 and the final two of the last round.

Denver lost in the AFC championship to the New England Patriots after Nix broke his right ankle in the Broncos’ overtime win against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. Nix is expected to be ready to participate in the team’s offseason program.

Carnival Tropicale is named after the original MS Tropicale, which was Carnival’s first originally designed cruise ship. That vessel helped shape the Fun Ship era, making entertainment and shared joy as central as the destinations themselves. It also introduced the iconic winged funnel to the fleet, which is now one of the most recognizable symbols in cruising.

In 2028, that legacy returns, reimagined for a new generation with innovative design and next-generation guest experiences.

Carnival currently homeports four ships in Galveston, and its continued investment in the region has been a driving force in the state’s tourism economy, attracting guests from across the Southwest region and beyond who come to Galveston and the greater Houston area and spend on other tourism activities as part of their trip.

“Carnival’s continued investment in the Port of Galveston is a big reason why we’re the cruise port of choice for a growing number of Americans and why we’re setting new growth records year over year,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. “Carnival has been a valued partner for this port and this community for 26 years. We look forward to many more years of growth together.”

In 2024, Carnival became the first cruise line to welcome more than 10 million guests to Galveston, underscoring the strength of the Texas market. That same year, Carnival Jubilee was the first new ship to be inaugurated at the Port of Galveston. The Excel-class ship was the first North American ship to provide guests with 5G connectivity, and the first homeported in Galveston powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) – reflecting Carnival’s focus on innovation and sustainability.