the last poets

The hard-hitting and beautiful Last Poets' eponymous 1970 debut is one of the most influential proto-rap albums. The Last Poets layered street poetry and manifesto over sparse instrumentation and beats. But, in so doing, created a unique music that reflected a pure passion for sound, words and the revolution. It was a formula to which rap would later owe an enormous debt. From beginning to end, it would be easy to label this album simply spoken word. But it is testament to the brilliance of The Last Poets' that it also becomes so much more. Includes the historic: "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution", "New York, New York," and "When the Revolution Comes." Also available on CD (SPOT 502).