Hip-hop forefathers the Last Poets are now on record: 'In times of great chaos, there's opportunity'. In the first time in 35 years, no rap song has made it into Billboard's Hot 100 chart. While many may say that all the beats sound the same, all the artists are industry plants, or the lyrics barely intelligible - Abiodun Oyewole would disagree.
Fifty-seven years ago, Oyewole joined with two young poets at a writers' workshop in East Harlem to form what would become the Last Poets, a collective of bard revolutionaries. They outfitted themselves in African prints and used music to advocate for populism. The group had many configurations over the years but Oyewole, Jalal Mansur Nuriddin and Umar Bin Hassan have remained standout members.
The trio is present on the band's first album, released in 1970 and peaked at No.29 on the Billboard 200. Their follow-up album made them targets for J Edgar Hoover's Cointelpro campaign against emerging figures deemed politically subversive. Oyewole couldn't contribute to that album because he was incarcerated for an attempted robbery of a Ku Klux Klan headquarters, serving two and a half years.
Oyewole credits the group's tight rhythms, insurgent message and prevailing emphasis on Black consciousness as laying the foundation along with fellow beatniks Gary Byrd and Gil Scott-Heron for hip-hop music. The Last Poets' influence can be seen in everyone from Melle Mel to KRS One to Common who have paid homage to their work.
Oyewole's line 'party and bullshit', which came from the song When the Revolution Comes on the last poets' first album would become the title and hook for Notorious BIG's debut single. Black comedians pay tribute with every one of their spoken word slam parodies.
Late last year, the Last Poets released an 11th studio album Africanism without Nuriddin (who died from cancer in 2018) that takes some of group's most resonant poems and sets them to Afrobeat stylings of Tony Allen. Oyewole credits Umar Bin Hassan for saying something extremely relevant today. He notes the problems continue to exist.
At age 77, Oyewole remains attuned to big issues as ever. Umar Bin Hassan also 77 is looking on (his speech has been somewhat limited after he suffered a pair of strokes in the last few years). Oyewole lets his opinions fly during their hourlong interview.
On Zohran Mamdani, former wannabe emcee turned Democratic socialist sweeping to victory, Oyewole says: "This is all divine order." On Nigeria's escalating violence, Oyewole says: "We need to recognize that we are one and the same people, Africa and the diaspora, and make that union a lot tighter."
Oyewole references an early poem by Bin Hassan, revived for Africanism called Niggers Are Scared of Revolution – a recognition that perked up his bandmate. Oyewole believes hip-hop's lost its way, with industry pushing it more as a market rather than art.
The Last Poets' grounding in Black pride and political purpose became heirlooms carried forward in the hip-hop movement - critical last word intended to rally listeners to dancefloor as join common cause against oppression. Oyewole believes that efforts will backfire and that their mission of returning power to people will win out.
"In times of great chaos, there's opportunity," he says. "The Taco Man and his efforts to ban books and erase our history? All he's really doing is promoting us."
Fifty-seven years ago, Oyewole joined with two young poets at a writers' workshop in East Harlem to form what would become the Last Poets, a collective of bard revolutionaries. They outfitted themselves in African prints and used music to advocate for populism. The group had many configurations over the years but Oyewole, Jalal Mansur Nuriddin and Umar Bin Hassan have remained standout members.
The trio is present on the band's first album, released in 1970 and peaked at No.29 on the Billboard 200. Their follow-up album made them targets for J Edgar Hoover's Cointelpro campaign against emerging figures deemed politically subversive. Oyewole couldn't contribute to that album because he was incarcerated for an attempted robbery of a Ku Klux Klan headquarters, serving two and a half years.
Oyewole credits the group's tight rhythms, insurgent message and prevailing emphasis on Black consciousness as laying the foundation along with fellow beatniks Gary Byrd and Gil Scott-Heron for hip-hop music. The Last Poets' influence can be seen in everyone from Melle Mel to KRS One to Common who have paid homage to their work.
Oyewole's line 'party and bullshit', which came from the song When the Revolution Comes on the last poets' first album would become the title and hook for Notorious BIG's debut single. Black comedians pay tribute with every one of their spoken word slam parodies.
Late last year, the Last Poets released an 11th studio album Africanism without Nuriddin (who died from cancer in 2018) that takes some of group's most resonant poems and sets them to Afrobeat stylings of Tony Allen. Oyewole credits Umar Bin Hassan for saying something extremely relevant today. He notes the problems continue to exist.
At age 77, Oyewole remains attuned to big issues as ever. Umar Bin Hassan also 77 is looking on (his speech has been somewhat limited after he suffered a pair of strokes in the last few years). Oyewole lets his opinions fly during their hourlong interview.
On Zohran Mamdani, former wannabe emcee turned Democratic socialist sweeping to victory, Oyewole says: "This is all divine order." On Nigeria's escalating violence, Oyewole says: "We need to recognize that we are one and the same people, Africa and the diaspora, and make that union a lot tighter."
Oyewole references an early poem by Bin Hassan, revived for Africanism called Niggers Are Scared of Revolution – a recognition that perked up his bandmate. Oyewole believes hip-hop's lost its way, with industry pushing it more as a market rather than art.
The Last Poets' grounding in Black pride and political purpose became heirlooms carried forward in the hip-hop movement - critical last word intended to rally listeners to dancefloor as join common cause against oppression. Oyewole believes that efforts will backfire and that their mission of returning power to people will win out.
"In times of great chaos, there's opportunity," he says. "The Taco Man and his efforts to ban books and erase our history? All he's really doing is promoting us."
for the industry vs art debate - you got these OGs Abiodun Oyewole & Umar Bin Hassan saying hip-hop has lost its way and it needs to go back to its roots, you know what I mean? 
they're talking about this 'divine order' and me thinking about our current gov't 
trying to silence ppl through book bans... Oyewole's line 'The Taco Man' is fire 
but also kinda scary - like how far is he willing to take it? 
and what does he mean by "promoting us" though? is he saying the gov't is just giving ppl a false sense of freedom? 
anyway, I gotta give props to Oyewole & co for keeping it real 
. It's like, they're saying our art should be more than just a marketable commodity... it should be a call to action 
. I'm also loving how Oyewole is still holding it down at 77, and his connection to Umar Bin Hassan is beautiful 
. The fact that hip-hop has lost its way and forgotten about its roots is a shame 
, but Oyewole's optimism gives me hope for the future... maybe we'll get back to that revolutionary spirit 
. It's refreshing to hear someone with his experience and influence say that they're not going anywhere anytime soon 
, but it shows he's still got faith in the power of people coming together. Let's hope the rest of us can follow suit 
. And can we talk about how prophetic it is that his "party and bullshit" line became the title track for Notorious BIG's debut single? The Last Poets' influence on hip-hop is undeniable, and Oyewole's still carrying the torch 
, the Last Poets are still preachin' that revolution message even after all these years. It's dope to see how they're keepin' it real about hip-hop losin' its way and just becomin' a market thing. We need more people like Zohran Mamdani, speakin' truth to power and fightin' for the people 
. Africanism, unity, and justice – these are the things we should be fightin' for.
. Let's keep it movin', folks! 
. The more I read about Oyewole, the more I'm reminded of the power of collective activism - we're all in this together 
! The Last Poets' legacy lives on, even after 35 years without a rap song makin' it into Billboard 
, and I'm low-key hyped that the Last Poets are still inspirin' new artists like KRS One and Common 
. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this hip-hop legend! 
. It sounds like Oyewole is more concerned with getting his poem out there than actually making a point about how they're one and the same people, Africa and the diaspora... it's not that hard, man! 
. I think it's time for hip-hop to get back to its roots, you know? The industry needs to stop focusing on profit and start focusing on promoting Black pride and social justice 
. Can't wait to see what other powerful music comes out of The Last Poets next! 
. Like, who else can say they were a part of the movement that gave birth to hip-hop? 
!
. Oyewole's message of Black pride and unity resonating so much with me too - we're all in this together, fam