The godfather of rap? Possibly.
Gil Scott Heron set the mould for bombastic, political rhyme that would be followed years later by the likes of Public Enemy. But alongside the polemic, there was also the tender. Songs like Lady Day and John Coltrane and When You Are Who You Are are simply great pop songs.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a cracking album. It would be interesting to know what Scott Heron would have made of social networks…
You can see the #51for50 project to date here: https://mmitii.mattballantine.com/category/projects/51-for-50/