IMPACT CASE STUDY (REF 2014): Setting a legal precedent through research into gangsta rap

Narrative

Research work on gangsta rap by Dr Eithne Quinn has had a significant impact on the legal interpretation of lyrics. Dr Quinn has acted as an expert witness in a number of criminal cases to demonstrate that violent rap lyrics written by defendants cannot be taken as autobiographical statements. She has developed a track record as the leading legal expert on violent rap lyrics in the UK, and in one 2010 case her testimony led to a judicial ruling that set a legal precedent. Rap is a highly relevant form of popular culture made by young people who are marginalized by race and class. It is often misunderstood, or even reviled, in mainstream debate. Dr Quinn’s research impacts on society by challenging social assumptions about this controversial music.

Impact date	2014
Category of impact	Cultural impacts, Societal impacts
Impact level	Benefit