In the wake of the current reckoning on police violence against African Americans; the resultant protests and calls to action; and even the recent rounds of protest songs being released (Keedron Bryant, H.E.R., Anderson .Paak, Beyonce, etc.), I was reminded of how the killing of Amadou Diallo prompted a number of musical tributes.

I remember realizing years ago that several artists – some of my favorite artists in fact – had made songs specifically in tribute to Diallo. Not about police violence or police murders writ large, but in specific tribute to Diallo the man. And that they varied in tone, soundscape, structure, and theme.

Obviously, no musical tribute could fully comfort his family or erase his loss. And I know these artists weren’t personal friends of his, but to see him regarded by public figures – even in some small way – as a fully realized human being whose life was senselessly and tragically taken made him seem larger than just a statistic, news headline, or “latest victim.”

The songs I’m familiar with are:

Wyclef Jean – "Diallo"
https://youtu.be/oWK81up-DMY

Bruce Springsteen – “American Skin (41 Shots)"
https://youtu.be/aQMqWAiWPMs

Erykah Badu – "A.D. 2000"
https://youtu.be/s5g-yVykeIk

Lauryn Hill – "I Find It Hard To Say (Rebel)"
https://youtu.be/43niOeHfXKk

But I see that other artists have also paid musical tribute to Diallo, either in whole songs or lyrical references – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Amadou_Diallo#Music

Obviously, Clef’s and Springsteen’s tributes were a bit more direct in reference.

Erykah made mention of her song’s connection during press for ‘Mama’s Gun,’ which made the already achingly beautiful song resonate that much more (with co-piloting from the late Betty Wright).

And Lauryn gives the origins of her song in the interlude leading up to the track on her 'MTV Unplugged 2.0' album: https://youtu.be/KWNpbmdbYWc

No real agenda here other than reflection and remembrance. Of the man, Amadou Diallo, and the musical tributes to his lost life.