Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron combined spoken word, jazz, soul, and proto-rap in Washington D.C. and New York during the early 1970s. His piece "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" from his 1970 debut album became a cultural touchstone for its sharp social commentary. Scott-Heron's work blended political poetry with music, influencing hip-hop and conscious rap artists who followed.