Gil Scott-Heron, the "godfather of rap," whose mix of poetry, politics, jazz, blues and soul influenced hip hop and neo soul, died Friday, according to multiple media reports.
Jamie Byng, Gil Scott-Heron's publisher in the UK, released the information via Twitter.
"Just heard the very sad news that my dear friend and one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met, the great Gil Scott-Heron, died today."
The self-described "bluesician" was 62.
Pitchfork has confirmed the news of Scott-Heron's passing with a publicist for his record label.
Scott-Heron made a name for himself as a spoken word soul performer in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He is best known for the critically acclaimed “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” first recorded as a spoken-word piece for his album “Small Talk at 125th and Lenox.”
He also co-wrote and produced more than a dozen albums with jazz and funk legend Brian Jackson. The fusion of jazz, blues and soul in these albums is credited with influencing hip hop and neo soul.
Known as “the godfather of rap,” Scott-Heron’s music was a mix of poetry and politics. His lyrics, full of social and political themes, often is associated with black militant activism.
He performed at the No Nukes concerts, held in 1979 at Madison Square Garden. The concerts were organized by a group called Musicians United for Safe Energy and were protesting the use of nuclear energy following the meltdown at Three Mile Island. The group included singer-songwriters such as Jackson Browne, Graham Nash and Bonnie Raitt.
Scott-Heron’s song, “We Almost Lost Detroit,” written about a previous accident at a nuclear power plant, is sampled on the single, “The People," performed by rapper Common and produced by Kanye West.
Scott-Heron’s 2010 album, I’m New Here, was his first new studio release in 16 years. The album’s remix, “We’re New Here,” featuring reworking by English music producer Jamiexx, was released earlier this year.
As a child, Scott-Heron lived with his maternal grandmother, Lillie Scott, in Jackson, Tennessee, before moving to New York, aged 13, when she died. The first song on I'm New Here is the ironically titled, "On Coming from a Broken Home", which is an ode to Lillie, according to The Guardian.
Scott-Heron battled an addiction to cocaine and other substances for most of his career and spent time in and out of jail on drug possession charges. He was HIV positive.
The cause of Scott-Heron's death has not yet been reported.
"He's one of my heroes, an incredible source of energy, power, and truth in the world," Rapper Mos Def told New York Magazine.
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