Continued from my last page...

Another type of music which has had some connections to the rap/hiphop world is the Last Poets.The Last Poets were a politicaly charged black music group that formed in New York city in the late 60's.Beginning their recording career in the early 70's, their initial sound consisted solely of African bongo type drumming with rhythmic beat poetry (a type of poetry long associated with the jazz genre).With recordings such as "White Man's Got a God Complex" and "Niggas Are Scared of Revolution" this was percussive drum and street talking music that sometimes used the f-word.This description makes it sound like alot of rap, which was birthed in the same city(Some have even labelled it as an early form of rapping).But unlike the early rap pioneers like Kool Herc, there initial music made use of unfunky complex polyrhythmns and had no relationship to soul or funk.Eventually however the Lost Poets would begin to add melodic instruments such as the saxaphone, bringing in jazzy melodies and experimenting into the realms of jazz/funk, while continuing to use a beat poetry way of talking.

As early as 1973 Alafi Pudim of the Last Poets did an album with Kool and The Gang and Eric Gale called "Hustlers Convention".Though I don't remember hearing anything from this album, it is said to use funk grooves, street noises, sound effects and features Pudim's street talking.This same record was used as a break record by some of the first hiphop dj's.Later on in the 1980's The Last Poets would return the favour by experimenting with hiphop elements.

Another artist who often has a similar style to the Last Poets is Gil Scott Heron (who is obviously influenced by them in his talking tracks).His most popular track is probably his "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", which would later be covered by both the Last Poets and the Disposable Hereos Of HipHoprisy.It was originaly recorded in 1970 in the sparse style of early Last Poets, just his beat poetry with congas and bongos.He would later record it in a jazz/funk vibe in the early 70's (1971?) and the results is something that sounds an awful lot like rap.You can hear this track for yourself in this following MP3:

http://www.giamilinovich.com/TheRevolutionWillNotBeTelevised.MP3

For a lengthier look at the Last Poets, see this article:

http://www.ric.edu/rpotter/lpoets.html

Speaking of the influence the Last Poets have had on rap, the above article sais "Their influence is great, but it's more on attitude than on the music itself." I think this statement would be true for alot of rap or atleast some of it.But not all rap has the political street attitude they had.And some rap groups even borrow something of their beat poetry based vocal style (like tracks I've heard by the Disposable Hereos of Hiphoprisy).

Continuing, but interuptions welcome....