A recent op-ed in the New York Times points out how one Vonte Skinner was convicted in a New Jersey courtroom of attempted murder of a rival drug dealer in large part based on extremely violent rap lyrics he'd written. The lyrics were found in his girlfriend's car when he was arrested in 2005 for "allegedly shooting Lamont Peterson multiple times at close range."

In 2012, a New Jersey state court of appeals was moved to overturn the 30-year conviction on the grounds that entering the lyrics (13 pages worth that were read out loud to the jury) as evidence was "highly prejudicial," resulting in Skinner getting a new trial.

Admittedly, the lyrics are extremely violent, painting a portrait of a cold-blooded killer, although they were written well before the incident and have no relation to Peterson:

"Two to your helmet and four slugs drillin' your cheek to blow your face off and leave your brain caved in the street � the seat. I play with fire like pyros and gasoline, so, come test one. I hope your brain got a rhino vest on. Death is your final step, Dawg, ain't nothin' sweet here, everywhere I go, I got my heat."