“Jay-Z’s 99 Problems, Verse 2: A Close Reading With Fourth Amendment Guidance for Cops and Perps”, 2012-12-01 ():
This is a line-by-line analysis of the second verse of “99 Problems” by Jay-Z, from the perspective of a criminal procedure professor.
It’s intended as a resource for law students and teachers, and for anyone who’s interested in what pop culture gets right about criminal justice, and what it gets wrong.
[WP: “In 2011 Southwestern Law School Professor Caleb Mason wrote an article with a line-by-line analysis of the second verse of the song from a legal perspective referencing the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, citing it as a useful tool for teaching law students search and seizure law involving search warrants, Terry stops, racial profiling, the exclusionary rule, and the motor vehicle exception. Mason writes that some of Jay-Z’s lyrics are legally accurate and describe prudent behavior (eg. identifying when police ask for consent to search, specifically asking if one is under arrest, and complying with the police order to stop rather than fleeing which would certainly result in a search of the car and might authorize police to use lethal force to stop a high speed chase). However, Mason also notes the song lyrics are legally incorrect in indicating that a driver can refuse an order to exit the Arand that police would need a warrant to search a locked glove compartment or trunk—in fact, police would only need probable cause to search a car.”]
…The year is ’94, in my trunk is raw
In my rearview mirror is the motherfuckin’ law
Got 2 choices, y’all: pull over the car or
Bounce on the devil, put the pedal to the floor
And I ain’t tryin’ to see no highway chase with Jake
Plus I got a few dollars, I can fight the case
So I pull over to the side of the road
I heard, “Son, do you know why I’m stopping you for?”
“’Cause I’m young and I’m black and my hat’s real low?
Do I look like a mind reader, sir? I don’t know
Am I under arrest or should I guess some more?”
“Well, you was doing 55 in a 54
License and registration and step out of the car
Are you carrying a weapon on you? I know a lot of you are”
“I ain’t stepping out of shit, all my paper’s legit”
“Well, do you mind if I look around the car a little bit?”
“Well, my glove compartment is locked
So is the trunk in the back
And I know my rights, so you gon’ need a warrant for that”
“Aren’t you sharp as a tack? You some type of lawyer or something? Somebody important or something?”
“Well, I ain’t passed the bar, but I know a little bit
Enough that you won’t illegally search my shit”
“Well, we’ll see how smart you are when the K9 come”
I got 99 problems, but a bitch [female dog] ain’t one; hit me!