A Dedication to Troy Davis
Eleven rap songs that should be re-made in his honor.
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A Dedication to Troy Davis - Troy Davis put up a good fight before he was executed by the State of Georgia on Wednesday night (September 21). The hip hop community lent their support to efforts to stay Davis's execution and, in the process, created a controversial figure that will eventually inspire future material from today’s artist. Here, we offer some suggestions on past rap songs that, if re-made today, would make for great soundtrack music to tell the attention-grabbing story of Troy Davis.
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Song: “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” – Pete Rock & CL Smooth - No song is more fitting than this timeless Pete Rock & CL Smooth dedication classic. Supporters may have not known Troy Davis on a personal level, but he’s left an everlasting memory behind.Suggested Re-Make Artist: Lupe Fiasco (Photo: Courtesy Elektra Records)
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Song: “Only God Can Judge Me Now” – Tupac - Not to get all religious with it, but this rebellious Tupac cut speaks to the fearless-yet-forgiving tone Troy Davis struck with his final words directed at prison officials, “May God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls.”Suggested Re-Make Artist: Rick Ross (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)
Photo By Ron Galella/WireImage
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Song: "Murder Was The Case" - Snoop Dogg - Troy Davis spent over 20 years on death row for the murder of an off-duty police officer. Using this Death Row Records classic as the soundtrack for his story on “the Row” could be as gripping as Snoop’s musical account.Suggested Re-Make Artist: Game (Photo: Courtesy Death Row Records)
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Song: “Dead Wrong” – Notorious B.I.G. - Most of the hip hop community was against the execution of Troy Davis, the title of this Notorious B.I.G. posthumous release speaks to the emotional tenor of many rappers and rap fans alike.Suggested Re-make Artist: Killer Mike(Photo: Des Willie/Redferns)
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Song: "If I Should Die" - Jay Z - Much like this vintage Jay-Z track, Troy Davis had specific instructions for his family and friends moments before his death. He requested that they "look deeper into this case so you can really find the truth."Suggested Re-Make Artist: Kendrick Lamar (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
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Song: "Letter to The President" - Tupac & The Outlawz - While many people called on President Barack Obama to step in and stop the execution of Troy Davis, the POTUS stayed pretty quiet. It would have been nice to hear a firebrand message sent to the president by one of today’s rap acts on behalf of Mr. Davis.Suggested Re-Make Artists: Slaughterhouse(Photo Courtesy Death Row Records)
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Song: "This Can't Be Life" - Jay-Z ft Beanie Sigel, Scarface - For many it was hard to wrap their heads around the execution of Troy Davis, given the reasonable doubt about his guilt. This soulful Jay-Z collaboration with Scarface and Beanie Sigel sums up the surreal feeling the government-sanctioned killing gave off. (Jay Z Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup, Scarface Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)
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Song: "So Many Tears" - Tupac - The announcement of Troy Davis’s execution triggered a wealth of sadness across the nation. A hip hop song detailing the grief many people felt at the time would be fitting.Suggested Re-Make Artist: DMX (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar /Landov)
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Song: "I'll Be Missing You" - Diddy - The earnest smash single dedicated to Notorious B.I.G. could be just as moving if it described Troy Davis’s plight over the last 20 years. Suggested Re-Make Artists: B.o.B ft. Adele (Photo: Courtesy Bad Boy Arista Records)
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Song: “Shut ‘Em Down (Remix)” – Public Enemy - The death of Troy Davis caused a groundswell of opposition against the death penalty. A timely rap hit urging Americans to ban capital punishment could potentially move the needle.Suggested Re-make Artists: Common and Nas (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)