The murder trial for Kewon White, the man accused of gunning down Dallas rapper MO3 on a Dallas freeway in November 2020, is set to continue Thursday with FBI testimony expected to take center stage.
MO3, whose legal name was Melvin Noble, was shot and killed on November 11, 2020, in what prosecutors describe as a murder-for-hire plot. White is the first of three co-defendants to face trial and is charged with carrying out the actual shooting.
The case involves a web of alleged rivalries between Dallas-area rappers. Prosecutors contend that a feud involving MO3, TrapBoyFredy, and Yella Beezy ultimately led to Noble’s death. Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of orchestrating the killing, while co-defendant Devin Brown is alleged to have helped coordinate the attack.
All three men have entered not guilty pleas.
Earlier this week, testimony centered on White’s phone and bank records, social media activity from around the time of the murder, and several rap songs. MO3’s track “219” and Yella Beezy’s songs “Keep It in the Streets” and “On Yo Head” were played for the jury on Wednesday as prosecutors worked to establish motive and intent.
The use of rap lyrics as evidence became one of the most contested legal battles in the case. During pretrial hearings, a Dallas police detective testified that specific songs support the state’s murder-for-hire theory and referenced an alleged feud between Conway and Noble. The detective also noted that the suspected shooter appeared onstage with Conway at a concert before the killing took place.
Defense attorneys argued the songs represent artistic expression and should not be treated as factual statements. A judge ultimately ruled that three songs would be admitted as evidence.
Week one of the trial also featured testimony from forensic experts, law enforcement officers, apartment complex residents who saw Noble shortly before the shooting, and Noble’s former girlfriend who shares children with co-defendant Brown. Video footage of White’s arrest in Mount Pleasant was also shown to jurors.
The defense has challenged the relevance of some evidence presented, arguing that portions of the prosecution’s case do not directly connect to White. The trial has drawn significant national attention due to the high-profile nature of those involved and the broader legal debate over whether rap music can be used as criminal evidence in court.
