Gil Scott-Heron passes...

He was one of my heros, a great artist that led us as war protestor's during the Vietnam War , his music, which were poetry to me and others, said what needed to be said during the Vietnam War. His songs were our battle cries to a huge extent. I reworked his lyrics to The Revolution will not be Televised(his site)  here and  here during the Bush Administration to make them timely to those fuckwits and apply them to society and the present war, which was the Iraq War.

Those two post still gets hits daily from all over the world.

Scott-Heron died in a NYC hospital after touring to promote his first album in over 15 years. He is known by many as the Godfather of Rap. He never cared about the money he could make from his music, it was about the meaning of the lyrics for him, a man that truly was a poet, who shunned the 'trappings' of fame. It was about Speaking Truth to Power for him.  From The Guardian:

Gil Scott-Heron: music world pays tribute to the 'Godfather of Rap'

The poet and musician, best known for The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, leaves a legacy of incisive political comment

 
The music world was mourning Gil Scott-Heron, the troubled poet and musician whose ground-breaking The Revolution Will Not Be Televised became a beacon for emerging rap and hip-hop culture.

Scott-Heron, who last year released his first album in 16 years to critical acclaim, died in a New York hospital after returning from a European trip. He was 62.

Richard Russell, founder of the British label XL Recordings, who produced and published Heron's final work, said: "Gil was not perfect in his own life. But neither is anyone else. And he judged no one. He had a fierce intelligence, and a way with words which was untouchable; an incredible sense of humour and a gentleness and humanity that was unique to him."

Russell added that the Chicago-born artist, who never achieved chart success in spite of a loyal global audience for songs including the dance-floor favourite The Bottle, had shunned all the trappings of fame and success.

"He could have had all those things. But he was greater than that. He seemed wholly uninterested in money. His talent was immense. He was a master lyricist, singer, orator and keyboard player. His spirit was immense. He channelled something that people derived huge benefit from."

Scott-Heron was a gifted child, raised in Tennessee by his maternal grandmother, Lillie Scott, after his parents – a Jamaican father who became the first black footballer to play for Celtic and a talented teacher mother – separated.

Rest in Peace dear man. He was not perfect by any means, but who is? His lyrics were really poetry on a society, aimed at those in power, as well as calling out everyone that put greed and/or power before people and their survival and their basic needs. 

He was only 62. We are less because he is has left this world. We have lost a bonafide voice of the people.Below is his original song: