Rappers Jay-Z, Kanye West Dedicate Song To Danroy Henry, Pace Student Killed By Police Officer

August 9, 2011 10:04 AM

Danroy ‘DJ’ Henry (credit: Personal Photo)

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PLEASANTVILLE, NY (CBSNewYork) – Two of the biggest stars in the world of Hip Hop have thrown a new spotlight on the shooting death of Pace University student Danroy “D.J.” Henry.

Kanye West and Jay-Z dedicated a song from their top-selling album “Watch the Throne” to Henry.

“Bloody murder, murder, murder,” raps Jay-Z, before adding “This is to the memory of Danroy Henry” on the track “Murder to Excellence.”

Henry was shot dead by a police officer in Pleasantville last fall. Henry was driving away from a disturbance outside a bar. Officer Aaron Hess said he shot Henry after being stuck by Henry’s car and flung onto the hood. Some witnesses disputed his account.

In February, a grand jury cleared Hess of any wrongdoing.

In April, Danroy Henry’s parents filed a civil rights lawsuit against Hess, claiming he violated their son’s civil and constitutional rights. They demanded compensation for their son’s death.

Rappers Jay Z, Kanye West Dedicate Song To Danroy Henry, Pace Student Killed By Police Officer

Al Sharpton

Yet another example of the deep divide in race relations. Blacks & Whites have a totally different view on certain issues. Couple other similar high profile items where this is the case: OJ Simpson verdict and Tiger Woods fiasco. LONG way to go to bridge that gap.
Damon Brown

I admit that there are some ignorant rappers out there doing ignorant shi_.I DJ’d in NYC for over 15 years and I don’t even listen to mainstream rap anymore because its all repetitive anti-social brainwashing in my opinion. But… this has nothing to do with rap music and its ignorance, this has to do with a officer who may have lied and murdered another innocent black man, we weren’t there ProFromDover and history as well as personal experienced has shown that some police officers cannot be trusted around young black men.I’ve always worked since I was 16 living in NYC, always well dressed for office work, yet I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stopped or assaulted by police just for being in the alleged wrong neighborhood..as if it was an impossibility that I had wealthy friends.
dp

RIP Danroy……hope you’re in a better place.
ProFromDover

Yes, let’s praise and glorify stupidity and denigrate the “po-lice”. Typical Rap mentality. (Stay alive: Stop the car and survive.)