A TEEN has been arrested for listening to what police deem offensive rap music.
In what could be a legal test case, 19-year-old Nathan Michael Wilkie faces a charge of offensive behaviour after police arrested him when he was listening to music by underground rapper Kid Selzy on his car stereo, the Herald Sun reports.
Mr Wilkie was parked outside a Timboon supermarket, waiting for his mother, when he was arrested.
The Warrnambool Magistrates' Court heard he was listening to lyrics such as "shut your f------ mouth bitch, f------ motherf-----".
The court was told the arresting officers found the music offensive and derogatory to females.
Mr Wilkie allegedly told officers: "You're a joke, go do some real police work."
The teenager is believed to be the first person charged under Australian law with offensive behaviour for listening to music.
Through his lawyer, Amanda Chambers, Mr Wilkie plans to plead not guilty when his case continues on June 11.
Mr Wilkie said he was thankful to have the support of Kid Selzy, who plans to attend in June.
"I am grateful to have Kid Selzy's support as this charge is a reflection on his music, that is not supposed to be offensive in any way," Mr Wilkie wrote.
"As Selzy said, 'I know what I mean and the people who buy it know what I mean, and that's what really matters'.
"He also mentioned 'if you read my lyrics, it's just my opinion'.
"And from what I believe, everyone has the right to their own opinion.
"I have lost two of my best mates in the last couple of years in tragic circumstances and I feel that listening to his music relates to life."
Kid Selzy, who gave his real name only as Jack, said he was astounded at the arrest.
"It's a joke that some kid's been arrested for doing something that's not illegal," he said.
"It's not illegal to have your windows down or to buy a CD. It seems to be a waste of taxpayers' dollars.
"If profanity's not your thing, don't listen."
The rapper said the case first came to his attention when Mr Wilkie's mother, Carolyn Wilkie, posted a message on his MySpace page.
"My son bought your CD ... from JB Hi-Fi and was playing it in his car," the message reads.
"Unfortunately he saw me (his mum) coming out of the local supermarket with shopping bags and left his car running and music playing to help me with my bags and the local cops pulled in.
"They stuck their head in his half-open window and were very offended by the lyrics of your CD.
"The end result is he has been served a summons for offensive behaviour for playing your CD, which they said was too loud and the lyrics offensive, especially to women."
Police are expected to play Kid Selzy's latest album, The Creepshow, at the next hearing.
Critique:
It's indeed the most special news I'd read so far. It can't be denied that the increasing number of "Rapper" in the recent music industry like Jay-Z and Eminem had influence the teens' preference for music. Usually the content of rapping is quite offensive to the country and certain gender but all of those are only the own opinions of the song writer. However, if the song has caused hard feelings to the others and penalization need to be taken, the song writer should be the one who is sued, not the public who play their songs. It sound a bit weird and funny to arrest a teen who play a rap song in his car.
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