Artist of the Week: Gil Scott Heron

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This week's Artist of the Week is Gil Scott Heron, a famous poet and jazz singer from the 1960s era. Gil is also known by some as the godfather of rap. His poems and songs dealt with themes such as the superficiality of television and mass consumerism, the hypocrisy of some would-be Black revolutionaries, white middle-class ignorance of the difficulties faced by inner-city residents, and fear of homosexuals. They say that all who are truly great pay a huge price for their "greatness" and Gil is no different. It is said that he is addicted to cocaine and it is believed that because of his homosexual lifestyle he had become HIV positive.