Lousiville, KY – Prosecutors say that the leader of the so-called Victory Park Cribs gang recorded rap songs that glorify his crimes and lifestyle. Kenneth Parker is awaiting trial on multiple counts of murder, assault, robbery and drug charges, and prosecutors want to use the lyrics from his songs as evidence. James Zambroski has the exclusive story.

Parker and his six co-defendants were arrested in early 2002 after a three-year investigation that included a federal grand jury convened primarily to sweat reluctant witnesses. Police say fear was a big part of the gang's longevity and success in the West End.

Key evidence against Parker includes a CD and printed lyrics, copies of which WAVE 3 obtained after months of negotiation with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

The lyrical evidence against Parker is in two parts. The first includes printed words investigators say were copied from a cassette.

"Victory Park, quick to a shoot a n...in the heart..."

"Where the gangs stay sharp, where we practice murder as an art by lettin' the guns bark"....

"We conscious murderers. We bang."...

There is an audio recording as well. An 18-song CD is part of the court record.

Prosecutor Alex Daythorne declined comment on the Parker case, but said lyrics often define the singer -- or in this case, the rapper. Daythorne says "the songs may very well be indicative of what's going through an individual's mind." - AP

HipHopDirectory.com