Gil Scott-Heron - Rest in Peace (Playlist and commentary)
Gil Scott-Heron is one of those artists who tends to be referenced more
for his impact than the means he used to deliver that impact. When he passed away last Friday
at the age of 62, the eulogies and obituaries leaned heavily on what he
paved the way for: a more widespread mainstreaming of the spoken-word
movement, the infusion of more explicitly Afrocentric and political
insights into R&B, and above all else, the stylistic, attitudinal
and philosophical basis of hip-hop lyricism.
That latter phenomenon's been well-documented, popularly acknowledged to the point where Scott-Heron evasively denied parentage and felt compelled to deliver a treatise on the hip-hop generation's moral responsibilities on 1994's "Message to the Messengers". Whether or not the wider rap world was listening to that particular message, a good number of hip-hop artists had already received dozens of his other dispatches from earlier years, and they interpreted them in ways that acknowledged their weight, building off the instrumental structures of his tracks to echo his voice by proxy. Read complete story from pitchfork.com.
You know why Gil never had much love for that ill-conceived Godfather of Rap tag. If you're already your own genre, you don't need the weak currency offered by another. If you're a one-off, why would you want to bask in the reflected glory of knock-offs? If you're already Odin, being proclaimed the decrepit sire of Thor and Loki just ain't gonna rock your world.
Also check out www.jazzstagenet.blogspot.com
That latter phenomenon's been well-documented, popularly acknowledged to the point where Scott-Heron evasively denied parentage and felt compelled to deliver a treatise on the hip-hop generation's moral responsibilities on 1994's "Message to the Messengers". Whether or not the wider rap world was listening to that particular message, a good number of hip-hop artists had already received dozens of his other dispatches from earlier years, and they interpreted them in ways that acknowledged their weight, building off the instrumental structures of his tracks to echo his voice by proxy. Read complete story from pitchfork.com.
You know why Gil never had much love for that ill-conceived Godfather of Rap tag. If you're already your own genre, you don't need the weak currency offered by another. If you're a one-off, why would you want to bask in the reflected glory of knock-offs? If you're already Odin, being proclaimed the decrepit sire of Thor and Loki just ain't gonna rock your world.
Gil knew he wasn't bigger than hip-hop—he knew he was just better.
Like Jimi was better than heavy metal, Coltrane better than bebop,
Malcolm better than the Nation of Islam, Marley better than the King
James Bible. Better as in deeper—emotionally, spiritually,
intellectually, politically, ancestrally, hell, probably even
genetically. Mama was a Harlem opera singer; papa was a Jamaican
footballer (rendering rolling stone redundant); grandmama played the
blues records in Kentucky. So grit shit and mother wit Gil had in
abundance, and like any Aries Man worth his saltiness he capped it off
with flavor, finesse and a funky gypsy attitude. Read complete story from Greg Tate for The Village Voice.
Also check out www.jazzstagenet.blogspot.com
Posted by Pete McConnell at 5/31/2011 7:49 AM 
Categories: music downloads, youtube music, free jazz, jazz online, jazz songs, best jazz, jazz musician, jazz, music online free, free music, jazz music, music videos, jazz artists, jazz blog
Tags: gil scottheron obit lady day and john coltrane
Categories: music downloads, youtube music, free jazz, jazz online, jazz songs, best jazz, jazz musician, jazz, music online free, free music, jazz music, music videos, jazz artists, jazz blog
Tags: gil scottheron obit lady day and john coltrane
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