Pieces of Gil: Remnants of the Poet/Philosopher

The way you get to know yourself is by the expressions on other people’s faces.

It's been several days since the news of Gil Scott-Heron's death, but no word yet on the official cause. Not hard to imagine what took down the crack-addicted, HIV-positive blues-ologist, but perhaps it's not fair to speculate.

I've been trawling for items related to GSH for the last few days. Here are a couple of the stronger picks:

"New York is Killing Me" (2010) by Alec Wilson. A long piece which appeared last summer in The New Yorker. GSH reminisces here about how he got his start, what he thinks about his place in hip-hop, and the place of crack-cocaine in his life. Well written and stirring.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (2004). A one-hour documentary which appeared on BBC4. Lots of gaps in the story, but also meaningful interviews with collaborators like Brian Jackson, disciples like Chuck D, Sarah Jones, and Mos Def, and long segments with GSH himself. The video popped up on Youtube over the weekend in four segments of roughly 15 minutes each.

Part 1 of 4 below.



Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)

No Matter How Far Wrong You've Gone...

...you can always turn around. Rest in peace, Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011).

On the Road with Black Flag - Documentary (1986)

The sound and the fury. Candy-ass retro bands take note: the 1980s were not what you think. No embed permission, so go ahead and click the link. One hour, one minute, and fifty-one seconds of punk-as-fuck life and art.