[Shaun]

As confirmed by a publicist for his record label, Gil Scott-Heron, the singer-songwriter and poet, has died. He was 62.

Influential in R&B, spoken word, and hip-hop, Scott-Heron had a strong run of albums in the 1970s. He wrote the song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" and the phrase entered the cultural lexicon after appearing on his 1970 album Small Talk at 125th & Lennox. Scott-Heron later battled drug problems and was incarcerated for a period during the 2000s, but he returned to music in 2010 and released the acclaimed I'm New Here followed by the Jamie xx collaboration We're New Here earlier this year.

taken from Pitchfork.

RIP

people who don't know the name may recognise him for his speech (Comment #1) which appears on Kanye West's album last year (Who Will Survive in America?)

Youtube video

[LaLaLand]

I can't believe it, he's a pioneer. A sad day for R&B/Hip Hop.