If hip hop is a tribe, then Gil Scott-Heron was the chief. Heron passed away May 27th after falling ill upon returning home from a trip to Europe. The jazz, blues, soul and spoken word artist is best known for the composition “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” He gave a voice to the black community’s social and political issues through activism, poetry, literature and music. Scott-Heron has been called the “Godfather of Rap”- a moniker he humbly rejected. This man who clearly influenced the genres to rap and hip hop, counted among his own influences: Richie Havens, John Coltrane, Otis Redding, Billy Holiday and Nina Simone. (Download music for an inspirational playlist.)
Mr. Scott-Heron fought many battles during his life, including HIV and an addiction to crack. He once did a three-year stint in a New York prison with charges connected to his use of cocaine.
Scott’s funeral services were held at the Harlem Riverside Church. Scott’s daughter Gia read to poem she had written for her father and Stevie Wonder and Kanye West sang during the services. West performed his song “Lost in the World” which samples Heron’s poem “Comment #1.”
This legend’s discography contains more than 35 albums, many with long-time collaborator Brian Jackson.
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