After losing his battle in court over a second-degree murder charge, in which he received a life sentence, rapper C-Murder revealed this week that he plans to appeal the conviction. But, he must file within 30 days.

Close friends and business associates of the rapper believe the conviction is unfounded and say racism is the heart of the issue.

"Corey Miller's life has been at the mercy of racist politicians in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana," said Tomeka, a recording artist on C-Murder's TRU label. "It is time that the public is educated on how this case was handled, and how an innocent man has been put behind bars because he is an African American rapper whose case is unfortunately being tried in Jefferson Parish. The racists have gone so far as to put up a billboard stating Corey Miller is guilty.

"So many illegal events have taken place with this case that the State Supreme Court overturned his conviction due to actions by prosecuting attorneys. In most states, these attorneys would have been disbarred," she continued.

According to Tomeka, a public protest will be held in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans in an attempt to expose racism in the judicial system within the state.

"It's amazing that this sort of thing is still happening in 2009. Corey had been hard at work attempting to rebuild his life and career," said Brett Morrow of RBC Records, who will release the rapper's new album, Calliope Click, later this month. "RBC believes in Corey and for the local Parish judicial system to attempt to sideline the rebuilding of his life by convicting him unfairly solely based on his race is an outrage."

RBC Records has contact the NAACP and are planning to protest C-Murder's arrest, in hopes of allowing the rapper to be freed and "vindicated in the court of law."

Last month, a Louisiana judge accepted a conviction for C-Murder's second-degree murder charge, despite the jury insisting twice that they could not come to a decision and were hung.

Then, that same judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Despite the conviction, a new album is coming. Calliope Click drops September 29, and features guests such as Snoop Dogg, Juvenile, and B.G., among others.