Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah wins LSE Impact Prize for work on rap music in criminal cases

Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah, Associate Professor at LSE Law School, has been awarded the LSE Impact Prize for Outstanding Individual Impact, recognising her work changing how courts, lawyers and policymakers understand the use of rap music as evidence in criminal cases.

The award was presented as part of LSE’s second annual Impact Prize, which celebrates excellence in engagement and impact across the School. This year’s prizes recognised outstanding work across eight categories, with the judging panel selecting winners from 64 high-quality applications and nominations spanning 27 departments and research centres.

Dr Owusu-Bempah’s research and engagement on the use of rap music in criminal proceedings have helped challenge assumptions about rap lyrics and artistic expression in court, contributing to wider conversations among legal practitioners, policymakers and those working across the criminal justice system. Her winning entry, Art not evidence: rap music in court, received the Outstanding Individual Impact prize, which celebrates excellence in impact achieved by an individual member of LSE staff.

Commenting on her win, "I am delighted to have received this award. For more than two decades, police and prosecutors have been presenting irrelevant and unreliable rap music lyrics and videos as evidence in criminal proceedings, inviting racialised prejudice against Black young defendants, and further contributing to racial disparities in the criminal legal system. I am proud that my work has helped to raise awareness of this issue, influencing policy and practice. The prize will help to support my ongoing impact and engagement work with Art Not Evidence as we continue to advocate for legislative safeguards."

View full details of 2026 winners, runners up and highly commended nominees here.