Jury selection begins Monday in the first trial for three men accused of plotting to kill Dallas rapper MO3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
Kevon White is the first of the three men to stand trial. He is charged with murder and is accused of being the gunman who shot and killed Noble in 2020.
Rapper Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of orchestrating the killing. A third man, Devin Brown, is accused of helping coordinate the shooting.
All three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The case has garnered national attention not only because of the high-profile people involved, but also because of a legal fight over whether rap lyrics could be introduced as evidence.
During pretrial hearings, a Dallas police detective testified that songs including “Hitters,” “Keep It in the Streets” and “On Your Head” support the state’s murder-for-hire theory.
The detective also testified about an alleged feud between Conway and Noble. He said the suspected shooter appeared on stage with Conway at a concert before the killing.
Prosecutors argue the lyrics help establish motive and intent, while the defense maintains the songs are artistic expression rather than factual evidence.
A judge ruled that three of the rapper’s songs would be allowed as evidence, according to The Dallas Morning News.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
