Questions about Gil Scott-Heron
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was Gil Scott-Heron and why is he important to hip hop?
Gil Scott-Heron (the 1st of April 1949 - the 27th of May 2011) was an American jazz poet, singer, and musician whose spoken-word recordings over jazz-soul beats are considered a major influence on hip hop music. AllMusic's John Bush called him "one of the most important progenitors of rap music," and Eminem stated that "He influenced all of hip-hop." His poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is the work most often cited as a precursor to rap.
What does Gil Scott-Heron mean by the term bluesologist?
Scott-Heron coined the word "bluesologist" himself, defining it as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." He preferred this term to "godfather of rap," reflecting his roots in jazz, blues, and the oral poetry tradition rather than hip hop specifically.
What is Gil Scott-Heron's album I'm New Here about?
I'm New Here, released on the 9th of February 2010, on XL Recordings, was Scott-Heron's first studio album in 16 years. Produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, it is 28 minutes long with 15 tracks and features Scott-Heron's half-sung, half-spoken delivery. Critics praised it as intimate and honest; a reviewer for NPR described it as a record "not without hope but which doesn't come with any easy or comforting answers."
What happened to Gil Scott-Heron in prison?
Scott-Heron was sentenced to one to three years in a New York State prison in 2001 for cocaine possession. After a period of parole in 2002 and 2003, he was arrested again in October 2003 and received a six-month sentence. On the 5th of July 2006, he was sentenced to two to four years for violating a plea deal after leaving a drug rehabilitation center, claiming the clinic had refused to provide him with HIV medication. He was paroled on the 23rd of May 2007.
How did Gil Scott-Heron's music influence Kanye West?
Kanye West sampled Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson's "Home is Where the Hatred Is" and "We Almost Lost Detroit" for his songs "My Way Home" and "The People", both collaborative efforts with Common. West also used a spoken-word excerpt by Scott-Heron in the studio version of "Who Will Survive in America." Scott-Heron acknowledged West's contributions by sampling West's 2007 single "Flashing Lights" on his final album, I'm New Here.
What awards did Gil Scott-Heron receive after his death?
Scott-Heron received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, nominated by Charlotte Fox of the Washington, D.C. chapter of NARAS, with a letter of support from Bill Withers. In 2021, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Early Influence Award. He is also included in exhibits at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened on the 24th of September 2016.