Not solely spoken words: strands joined in/by rap and since: Saturday Music Club on Wednesday

from art-song recitative through gospel singing speech and on through other spoken rhythms to music explorations and traditions, a slice through some of the strands that were drawn upon when rap began to take its own shape in the latest 1960s/earliest 1970s in the work of Gil Scott-Heron and the Last Poets...and then beyond.






Marti Newland (with Artis Wodehouse): Rain Song (composed by Will Marion Cook, 1912)


Rev. W. A. Donaldson and Congregation: "Baptizing Scene"
Marion Williams: "Didn't It Rain"


The Memphis Jug Band: "On the Road Again"


Chris Bouchillon: "Talking Blues"
Woody Guthrie: "Talking Blues"

Pete Seeger (of the Almanac Singers): "Talking Union"

King Pleasure (with Blossom Dearie and James Moody et al.): "Moody's Mood for Love"
Langston Hughes: "The Weary Blues"

Lord Buckley: "The Nazz"
Ken Nordine: "White"

Champion Jack Dupree: "[Going Down to] Big Leg Emma's"
Willie Dixon: "Walking the Blues"


Halim El-Dabh: "Leiyla and the Poet" (1959)

Steve Reich: "It's Gonna Rain" (1965)

The Last Poets: Made in Amerikkka (excerpt) (NSFW language at points)


Gil Scott-Heron: "Brother"

Gil Scott-Heron Band: "Johannesburg" (live, British tv, 1976)

Gil Scott-Heron: "Comment #1 (Who Will Survive in America?)"  (NSFW language at points)

Gil Scott-Heron Band: 1984 German concert

U Roy: "Natty Rebel"


Salt N Pepa: "You Showed Me"


Public Enemy: "She Watch Channel Zero"


Beatnigs (later Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy): "Fight Fire with Fire"

The Go! Team: "Keys to the City" and more

Ana Tijoux and Shadia Mansour: "Somos Sur"


Zedbazi: "Zamin Safe"