70 years ago today (4/1/49), the late soul, jazz artist influential poet and musician Gil Scott Heron was born. Known primarily for his work as a spoken-word performer in the 1970s and 1980s, but his musical endeavors were highly influential in its political outspokenness and his translation to street beats that formed the blueprint for hip hip was coined by some as the “godfather of rap.” Scott-Heron was relevant up to his death on 5/27/11 with his 2010 album I’m New Here receiving excellent reviews. Check out Scott-Heron perform live at Woodstock ’94
