C-Bo

C-Bo
C-Bo in 2011
C-Bo in 2011
Background information
Birth nameShawn Thomas
BornJanuary 14, 1972[1]
Waco, Texas, US
OriginMeadowview, Sacramento, California, US[2][3]
GenresGangsta rap
Occupations
Years active1991–present
Labels

Shawn Thomas (born January 14, 1972), better known by his stage name C-Bo, is an American rapper from Sacramento, California. Known for his extensive legal troubles, he was the first notable rapper to be jailed due to his lyrical content in 1998. His 1995 song, "Deadly Game" (with X-Raided) earned this distinction, as its lyrics were a scathing critique of political officials, including governor Pete Wilson, and California's Prop. 184 three-strikes law.[4][5] He ineffectively argued for appeal three times.[6]

Although some charges were dropped as it was viewed as a violation of his First Amendment rights,[7] he was arrested in California in 1998, under the suspicion that his violent rap lyrics violated his parole.[8] He rapped his court statement to the presiding judge, in Ohio, who gave C-Bo probation on the condition that he also rap in a Public Service Announcement.[9] Also known for his frequent collaborations with fellow California-based rappers, he appeared in numerous videos for Tupac Shakur.[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Arnold 2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Jam, Billy (2012-02-03). "FREE SPEECH FREES RAPPER / About to be released, jailed C-BO says he's got a lot to say". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  3. ^ Weekly, L.A. (1998-03-11). "Jailhouse Rap". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tribune 1998 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Palmer, Tamara (2018-06-13). "5 'Criminal' Songs That Were Used As Evidence In Court". Oxygen Official Site. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  6. ^ "Rapper C-BO Jailed For Lyrics". MTV.com. 1998-03-04. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  7. ^ "Charges Against Rapper Over Lyrics Dropped". Los Angeles Times. 1998-03-07. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  8. ^ C-Bo jailed MTV Retrieved 28 April 2021
  9. ^ "C-BO Raps His Way Out Of Legal Trouble". MTV.com. 1998-07-31. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-03.