A Dallas courtroom became the center of national attention Wednesday as the first trial began for one of three men charged in connection with the 2020 killing of Dallas rapper MO3, whose legal name was Melvin Noble.
Kevon White is the first defendant to face a jury. He is charged with murder and prosecutors allege he was the gunman who shot and killed Noble four years ago.
Two additional defendants are also awaiting their own trials. Rapper Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of masterminding the alleged murder-for-hire scheme. A third man, Devin Brown, is accused of helping coordinate the attack. All three men have pleaded not guilty.
One of the most closely watched legal battles in the case involved whether rap lyrics could be used as evidence against the defendants. A Dallas judge ultimately ruled that three songs would be admissible in court.
During pretrial hearings, a Dallas police detective testified that songs including “Hitters” “Keep It in the Streets” and “On Your Head” support the prosecution’s theory that the killing was premeditated and financially motivated. Prosecutors argued the lyrics demonstrate motive and intent behind the alleged plot.
Defense attorneys pushed back strongly against that argument, contending that the songs are a form of artistic expression and should not be treated as factual admissions or evidence of criminal planning.
The detective also testified about an alleged personal feud between Conway and Noble. He told the court that the suspected shooter was seen on stage with Conway at a concert held before the killing took place.
The case drew widespread attention across the country due to the high-profile identities of those involved and the broader debate it sparked over the use of rap music as evidence in criminal proceedings. Legal experts and civil rights advocates have raised concerns about whether such evidence can be fairly evaluated by juries without bias.
Noble was killed in November 2020 on Interstate 35E in Dallas in a brazen daytime shooting that shocked the local music community and beyond. He had been building a significant following in the rap world and was considered one of the more prominent voices in the Dallas hip-hop scene at the time of his death.
The trial is expected to draw continued public interest as prosecutors and defense attorneys present their competing narratives before the jury.
