Top Of The Box » Rap

Buzzin Tribute to Gil Scott- Heron

Terry Lane — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:28:54 +0000

Last week Gil Scott-Heron died in New York aged just 62. It is always a sad loss when someone as talented an artist passes away but even more so I feel as it follows so quickly the release of his 2010 album I’m New Here on XL Recordings and the more recent collaboration with The XX member and producer Jamie XX, to remix the whole album as We’re New Here.

I’m Here Now was Gil Scott-Heron’s fifteenth studio album, and his first for sixteen years.

Gil Scott-Heron is born in Chicago in 1949. He was rightly hailed as the Godfather of Rap but he was so much more.. Since his debut album, Small Talk at 125^th and Lenox in 1970 he has blended jazz, soul and funk with his own unique style of spoken-word poetry with words fuelled by hard-edged socio-political commentary.

Gil Scott-Heron was never afraid to speak out and confront controversy. In 2001 he was spent time in jail for possession of cocaine. This followed his addiction to the drug that started in the 1980’s. He was further sentenced in 2006 for violating the terms of his parole.

The cause of his death has still to be confirmed but he became ill after returning to New York from a European trip. In 2008 Gil Scott-Heron confirmed he had been HIV-positive for several years, and that he had been previously hospitalized for pneumonia.

Gil Scott-Heron was a true genius. R.I.P.

The Fugees – Killing Me Softly – Live 1996

John Williams — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:56:00 +0000

The Fugees live on Later with Jools Holland in 1996, performing Killing Me Softly, the song that brought the band to the attention of the UK public and bringing hip hop into mainstream R&B music.

Taken from the classic album The Score which launched the careers of the band’s members, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel.

The Fugees – Killing Me Softly – Live 1996

M.I.A. – Paper Planes

John Williams — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:16:30 +0000

This was one of my favourite singles of 2008. The irresistible M.I.A looking very sexy in the official video for Paper Planes.

M.I.A. - Paper Planes

The Sugar Hill Gang – Rapper’s Delight

Terry Lane — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:41:42 +0000

The Sugar Hill Gang – Rapper’s Delight, 1979

In 1979 The Sugar Hill Gang brought a new music genre to the rest of the world – rapping. Rapper’s Delight was an innovative group of dj’s with an original and fresh new sound, and was an international commercial success.

The concept seemed too simplistic if it were to be written down. But to hear Rapper’s Delight in 1979 was amazing. A group of guys talking over the main riff from Chic’s Good Times. A true classic. This was the start of rap and hip hop.

Run DMC ft. Aerosmith – Walk This Way

John Williams — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:00:04 +0000

Originally a single in 1977 for Aerosmith, this song was re- recorded with rap artists Run DMC in 1986.

The track resurrected the career of the rock band and won the Soul Train Award For Best Rap Single in 1987 for both bands.

Who says guitar music and Rap can’t be enjoyed by the same audience?

Run DMC ft. Aerosmith – Walk This Way

Beastie Boys – Sabotage

Terry Lane — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:00:13 +0000

The Beastie Boys – Sabotage (Promo Video), 1994

The Beastie Boys are such a versatile group. Their own love of thrash, punk, hip hop, rap, soul and funk has influenced their musical output over the years.

For me, their best album is still Ill Communication which was released in 1994. It included the awesome Sabotage in which they play guitar, bass and drums, as well as sing. Sabotage is probably my favourite video of all time. A great video directed by film maker Spike Jones whereby The Beastie Boys pay homage to Starsky & Hutch and other tv cops from the 1970’s.