Gil Scott-Heron dies aged 62

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Poet and songwriter was hailed as 'Godfather of Rap' after penning The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott-Heron, a US poet and songwriter credited with helping inspire the development of rap music, has died at age 62, according to US reports.

Scott-Heron died on Friday at a New York hospital, National Public Radio said, citing his book publisher. He fell ill after returning from a trip to Europe, news reports said.

The Chicago-born artist was called the "Godfather of Rap", a term he disliked, for his groundbreaking spoken-word performances set to music, including The Revolution Will Not Be Televised in the early 1970s.

He recorded more than a dozen albums and was hailed as an important influence by hip-hop performers such as Kanye West. Considered a voice of African-American activism, Scott-Heron was also a musical critic of apartheid and nuclear power.

After serving a prison sentence for drug possession, Scott-Heron released an acclaimed album last year, I'm New Here.

• Gil Scott-Heron
• Rap
• United States

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Maggie O'Kane, Chavala Madlena, Guy Grandjean 28 May, 2011

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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/28/gil-scott-heron-dies-rap
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