Look, you could probably do your doctoral thesis on the effect Gil Scott Heron’s music did/did not have on the music world and whether it was/was not the precursor of hip hop and rap. There’s no way I’m going to add anything meaningful to that conversation, but I will say that when I first heard Gil Scott Heron (and his frequent musical partner Brian Jackson) it was a revelation.
Listening to the music, reading along with the lyrics and studying the gatefold sleeve photos was like a mini course in the history of black power and the struggles of people all over the world to free themselves of oppression (most often caused by policies of the US government). I hope this post will inspire someone new to explore the music, politics, and tragic life of Gil Scott Heron.
“The Bottle”
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
“Is That Jazz”
“No Knock”
“B-Movie”
“Winter In America & Whitey On The Moon”