Gil Scott-Heron

One of the most important progenitors of rap music, Gil Scott-Heron's aggressive, no-nonsense street poetry is equal parts politically conscious activism, cultural awareness, polemic, and social commentary, inspired a legion of intelligent rappers. His engaging songwriting skills -- often with longtime musical partner Brian Jackson -- placed him on the jazz charts, and later in his career, the R&B charts as well. Early recordings, such as 1971's Pieces of a Man and 1975's Winter in America, showcased his spoken word poetry and commentary, and more conventional songwriting cho...