CULCHA

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)

The poet, singer and songwriter whose incisive, acerbic poetry and social commentary galvanized the black arts movement of the 1970s, and helped lay the philosophical foundation for rap and hip-hop, died Friday at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York. He was 62. Ben Sisario of The New York Times writes on a life both significant and significantly troubled. See Music

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Martin Johnson of The Root, on the passing of a poet, singer and social visionary

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Photo: Mikael Altemark, Stockholm, Sweden, republished under Creative Commons license