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Last updated: Tuesday 30 Sep 2008
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The Godfather of Rap?
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Gil Scott-Heron
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The poet, author and musician is credited with being one of the unsung founding fathers of rap. How much do you know about Gil Scott-Heron?
Back in the 1970's Gil Scott-Heron pioneered hip hop with lyrics on drug abuse, politics and apartheid. He still influences artists like Kanye, Common and The Game.

1Xtra’s MistaJam takes us through the highs and lows of Gil’s extraordinary life from classic songs like "The Revolution will not be Televised" and "The Bottle" to the time he spent in jail.

Mos Def, Chuck D and Ty tell us why his music and message is still relevant today and Bashy hears Gil's music for the first time.
Gil Scott-Heron's known as The Godfather of Rap, do you agree? Are the messages in his songs from 30 years ago just as relevant today?

Aziz
Gil scott heron feat brian jackson: Winter in America....One of the best album i ever heard...Track: the bottle; Magic sound, magic lyrics... I have been always listening to great black music with my sisters and brothers....Every where black music is...even in a little suburb of Belgium...Represent for every lovers of Gil Scoot heron

Baggy
People need to educate themselves man, and it's so easy with the internet.Gil Scott Heron is an originator, who was a child prodigy writing books/poems way before he started setting the words to music. You've got to understand the social times he was responding to. Nowadays we got no soul, despite the fact many of the same struggles remain, and all we demand of our artists is to make us dance not think & act.Listen and learn...

Chelcie
This is the first time i've ever heard of Gil Scot-Heron but i'm really getting into old skool hip hop and will definetly be going to see Grandmaster Flash when he comes over on the 25th.

lena
yes, but nothing has happened, no revolution or nothin so people's momentum has run out.

Zarine
Hi. I've been listening to old skool hip hop ever since. My dad is into that stuff as well. He showed me the first songs of Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash. Honestly, thats the very first time I learn something about Gil Scott-Heron. His messages are relevant as today. We got the same problems as 30 years ago in society. Similar situation generally, I suppose. Thx, Zarine



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