Rapper Tiny Doo Gets Charges Dropped

Tiny Doo, a rapper who was facing life in prison over his rap lyrics, get his charges dropped. NBC San Diego reports a judge dropped the charges yesterday (March 16) and Doo, whose real name is Brandon Duncan, was reunited with his family.

Duncan was facing 25 years to life if he was found guilty of the nine felonies charges relating to shootings that took place in 2013 and 2014. Duncan did not have any knowledge of the shootings, no criminal history and according to his lawyer, his client was only labeled as a “documented gang member” because of the neighborhood he lived in had heavy gang activity. The reason Tiny Doo was charged is because of an unusual California law titled Proposition 21 used by prosecutors to label the rapper's music and the cover art for his No Safety album as gang activity promotion and conspiracy. The law was passed in 2000 and states that anyone who “promotes, furthers, assists, or benefits” criminal gang activity is guilty of conspiracy.

The Bay Area native was arrested back in June of 2014 4 and pleaded not guilty. He served several months in prison before posting his $50,000 bail—originally $1 million—and returning to his loved ones.

In an interview with CNN back in January, Duncan stated that the California prosecutors were "trying to eradicate black men." He told Buzzfeed that he stands by his music:  “I talk about what I talk about in my music because that’s what, you know, I know."

Related: Rapper Tiny Doo Pleads Not Guilty
Rapper Tiny Doo Faces Life In Jail For His Lyri