Rap song "Kill Me a Cop" sends a rapper to prison

[Solo]

Bartow, Florida -- A 20-year-old Lakeland man is facing two years in prison for writing a rap song called "Kill Me a Cop".

Antavio Johnson, who was on probation, has been sentenced to two years in prison after the song was discovered on a MySpace Web site. The Polk County Attorney's Office charged Johnson with two counts of corruption by threat of a public servant.

Although the lyrics are offensive to many people, the head of the Tampa Office of the American Civil Liberties Union, Rebecca Steele, says she believes the song is protected speech under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Steele, who is an attorney, says she believes the case will be over turned if it goes to an appeals court. While Steele admits the ACLU often gets itself in hot water for defending unpopular causes, she says that is what is involved in protecting the rights of the constitution.

According to Steele, it is easy to defend speech that everyone is in favor of, but the Constitution protects almost all speech unless it is a direct and real threat. She says she doesn't believe the rap song rises to that level.

However, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, who is mentioned in the song, says not only is it offensive but it is illegal. Judd is particularly offended by the part of the songs that makes a specific reference to fallen officers Deputy Sheriff "Matt" Williams and K-9 DiOGi, and mentions killing two Lakeland Police officers as well.

According to Judd, in February 2009, Detective Rob Mateo, who is assigned to the PCSO Gang Suppression Unit, was made aware of a MySpace page belonging to Hood Certified Entertainment on which a local rap artist known as "T.O." recorded the rap song. "T.O" is the stage name Johnson uses.

On February 8, 2009, Detective Mateo contacted the local Probation & Parole Office and made contact with Johnson's probation officer, who confirmed for Detective Mateo that Johnson was on probation for Possession of Cocaine, but that he had recently violated his terms of probation and was in the Polk County Jail.

On February 18, 2009, Detective Mateo consulted with the State Attorney's Office and prosecutors agreed to direct-file charges against Johnson.

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http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=110682&catid=8

The following lyrics are excerpts from the rap song "Kill Me a Cop," written and recorded by Antavio Johnson:

Hi, Grady

Free My Ni**a Chico

Straight up

Free My Ni**a Chico

Im'ma see you when you get home, homey.

Im'ma kill me a cop one day

He'ey

Cause I'm tired of em playin' with my life

Lord, I know it ain't right.

It ain't right, no

If Officer ...................[name removed upon request by LPD] he care at all

Get my timing wrong

Im'ma be puttin' one in his dome

Mr. Officer

Mr. Officer

Try me on the wrong day

And I'm offin' ya

I gotta grudge with the judge

Rugers for prosecutors

Calicos for C.O.'s

Bullet holes for P.O.'s

Call me crazy but I think I fell in love with the sound

Of hearing the dispatcher saying, "Officer Down"

Im'ma kill me a cop one day

He'ey

Cause I'm tired of em playin' with my life

Lord, I know it ain't right.

It ain't right, no

Hey!!! T.O.!!!

If Officer ............... [name removed upon request by LPD]

The Wonder Woman

Get my timing wrong

I'm a be puttin' one in her dome

Mrs. Officer

Mrs. Officer

Try me on the wrong day

And I'm offin' ya

I gotta Glock for a cop

Choppers for crime stoppers

And one in the cartridge

For the Lakeland Police Department

[D-Mann]

I bet if he had made "KILL ME A NI%%ER" He wouldn't have to worry about being sent to prison. This song is a bit extrem. Although. we do have freedom of speech. It's not free speech that all americans believe they have. IT'S CALLED SELECTIVE FREE SPEECH. But of course the excuse will be....."Well Antovio Johnson may cause psychos to actually go out & kill police officers."

[Phantom]

The enemy only wants us to be focused on killing each other. Once we wake up, and stop killing each other, we become a threat to the ones who are killing us systematically.
We have the “Freedom of Speech,” but focus your speech on killing the enemy, then all of a sudden we end up incarcerated for a freedom that we supposedly have.

“According to Judd, in February 2009, Detective Rob Mateo, who is assigned to the PCSO Gang Suppression Unit, was made aware of a MySpace page belonging to Hood Certified Entertainment on which a local rap artist known as "T.O." recorded the rap song. "T.O" is the stage name Johnson uses.”

Free T.O. Now!

[Lady R]

WOW! YOU HAVE TO BE MORE SELECTIVE WITH YOUR WORDS TODAY. HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE SHALL OVERCOME.