The Last Poets

The Last Poets are a groundbreaking collective with a sound that merges spoken word with jazz and hip hop. They came on the scene in the late sixties with a message of unity, social justice, and empowerment. Their message included frank lyrics about all that was wrong with their world and all that could be done to make it better. They're the godfather's of hip hop

Two of the groups original members Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan have a new album out called Transcending Toxic Times. It fuses spoken word with jazz rhythms and hip hop. It's wonderful.