Hip-hop pioneers The Last Poets: 'In times of great chaos, there's opportunity'
After 35 years, the Billboard Hot 100 chart no longer includes a rap song among its top 40 hits. This decline sparks debate, with many attributing it to various factors like homogenized beats and unintelligible lyrics. However, Abiodun Oyewole, a hip-hop pioneer, simplifies the issue: 'We embraced 'party and bullshit', my brother.'
Fifty-seven years ago, on what would have been Malcolm X's 43rd birthday, Oyewole, Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, and Umar Bin Hassan formed The Last Poets, a collective of revolutionary poets. They performed with African prints, congo drum beats, and advocated for populism in their verses. The group has evolved over the years, but Oyewole, Nuriddin, and Bin Hassan remain key members. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1970, peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 200. The follow-up, 'This Is Madness,' made them targets for J. Edgar Hoover's Cointelpro campaign, as they were deemed politically subversive.
Despite being dubbed 'jazz poetry,' The Last Poets' tight rhythms, insurgent message, and emphasis on Black consciousness laid the foundation for hip-hop. Melle Mel, KRS One, and Common have all paid homage to them. Oyewole's line, 'party and bullshit,' from their first album, became the title and hook for The Notorious BIG's debut single. Black comedians also pay tribute to The Last Poets in their spoken word parodies.
Last year, The Last Poets released their 11th studio album, 'Africanism,' without Nuriddin, who passed away from cancer in 2018. They set their resonant poems to the Afrobeat stylings of the late Tony Allen, a genre pioneer. Oyewole reflects on the enduring relevance of their work, stating, 'I'm blown away by the fact that Umar and I both said things that are extremely relevant today.'
At 77, Oyewole remains engaged with current issues. He discusses Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York City's mayoral election, political violence in Nigeria, Kanye West's struggles, and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., expressing his views on racism and the right-wing's attempts to recast controversial figures as martyrs.
Oyewole credits Last Poets co-founder David Nelson for helping him channel his rage into couplets. He shares how their music has always reflected their living experiences, but they are 'dying spiritually.' He references a poem by Bin Hassan, 'Niggers Are Scared of Revolution,' which highlights the group's critique of the N-word's misuse in hip-hop.
Oyewole argues that hip-hop's role in making the language of Black disparagement more palatable has enabled Donald Trump and his white supremacist allies to deny Black excellence. Despite this, he remains hopeful that their mission to return power to the people will prevail, stating, 'In times of great chaos, there's opportunity.' The Last Poets' legacy continues to inspire and influence the hip-hop movement.
