Gil Scott-Heron is rated as one of the most important pioneers of Hip-Hop and Rap Music as he often used the spoken word as his stylistic device but also facing political and social problems in his songs.He worked as a musician but also as a poet. Heron had his first commercial success in the 70s which continued until the late 80s. After being dropped by his record label he continued touring on his own. "In 1993, he signed to TVT Records and released Spirits, an album that included the seminal track "'Message to the Messengers". The first track on the album criticized the rap artists of the day."* In 2001 he was sentenced jailtime for drug possession which shouldn't be the last one as he was arrested again in 2006. He was released one year later as the jail's clinic couldn't take care of his HIV disease which hadn't been public yet. As I posted in one of my really first Posts he worked with Jamie xx (you might know him from The XX) and released his last album "We're new here" in February 2011. Three months later he died in a New York hospital.
It is really worth checking out his great work !
Have a nice sunday and enjoy
*(Source: Wikipedia)
RIP Gil. what an outstanding character
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