He began recording in 1970 with the LP Small Talk at 125th and Lenox with the assistance of Bob Thiele Flying Dutchman Records, co-writer Brian Jackson, Hubert Laws, Bernard Purdie (who later recorded "Delights of the Garden" with The Last Poets), Charlie Saunders, Eddie Knowles, Ron Carter and Bert Jones, all jazz musicians (see 1970 in music). The album included the aggressive diatribe against white-owned corporate media and middle-class America's ignorance of the problems of inner cities in songs such as Whitey On The Moon.
The 1971 Pieces of a Man used more conventional song structures than the loose, spoken word feel of his first, though he didn't reach the charts until 1975 with "Johannesburg". His biggest hit was 1978's "The Bottle", produced by Heron and longtime partner Brian Jackson, which peaked at #15 on the R&B charts (see 1978 in music).
In 2001, Gil Scott-Heron was sentenced to one to three years' imprisonment in New York State for possession of cocaine. While out of jail in 2002, he appeared on the Blazing Arrow album by Blackalicious. He was released on parole in 2003. On July 5, 2006, Scott-Heron was sentenced to two to four years in a New York State prison for violating a plea deal on a drug-possession charge by leaving a drug rehabilitation center. Scott-Heron's sentence was to run until July 13, 2009. He was paroled on May 23, 2007. The reason given for the violation of his plea was that the clinic refused to supply Scott-Heron with HIV medication. This story led to the presumption that the artist is HIV positive.
After his release, Scott-Heron began performing live again, starting with a show at SOBs in New York on September 13, 2007. On stage, he stated that he and his musicians were working on a new album and that he had resumed writing a book titled The Last Holiday, previously on long-term hiatus, about Stevie Wonder and his successful attempt to have the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. declared a federally recognized holiday in the United States.
He was arrested October 10, 2007, the day before a scheduled (but ultimately cancelled) second SOBs performance, on felony possession of cocaine charges. However, he has continued to make live appearances at various US venues during the course of 2008 and 2009, including further appearances at SOBs in New York. He has also stated in interviews that work is continuing on his new album, which will consist mainly of new versions of some of his classic songs plus some cover versions of other artists' work.
Having originally planned to publish The Last Holiday in 2003, before it was put on hold, Canongate Books now tentatively intend to issue it in January, 2011. The book was due to be previewed via a website set to be launched on April 1, 2009, but this did not appear.
Mark T. Watson, a student of Scott-Heron's work, dedicated a collection of poetry to Gil titled Ordinary Guy that contained a foreword by Jalal Mansur Nuriddin of The Last Poets. The book was published in the UK in 2004 by Fore-Word Press Ltd. Scott-Heron recorded one of the poems in Watson's book Black & Blue due for release in 2008 as part of the album Rhythms of the Diaspora by Malik & the OG's on the record label CPR Recordings.
Gil Scott-Heron released his new album I'm New Here on independent label XL Recordings on February 9, 2010. Produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, 'I'm New Here' is Scott-Heron's first album in thirteen years.The pair started recording the album in 2007, with the majority of the record being recorded over the last twelve months with engineer Lawson White at Clinton Studios in New York. In 2009, a new Gil Scott-Heron website, www.gilscottheron.net , was launched with a brand new track 'Where Did The Night Go' made available as a free download from the site.
In 2011, Scott-Heron released "We're New Here" a remix album which was a collaboration with Jamie xx, a member of the British indie band The xx. Scott-Heron died in New York City on May 27, 2011.
The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord if they bus your kids to school
I know you think you're cool
Just cause they bus your kids to school
But you ain't got a thing to lose
You just got the get out of the ghetto blues
I know you think you're cool
You done told me you think you're cool
Because you're gettin' two welfare checks
Yea but you got ten years to lose (if they catch you)
Just tryin' to fight that get out of the ghetto blues
If he don't catch you in the wash
Lord knows he'll catch you in the rinse
I know you think you're cool
Just cause you shooting that stuff in your arm
I seen you nodding
Cause you shoot that stuff in your arm
And it don't matter which pine box you choose
You got the get out of the ghetto blues
The opening lines of Gil Scott-Heron's social commentary "The Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues" speaks about the false sense of empowerment that people might feel under certain circumstances. When the government buses your kids to school, it appears as if you are now part of the establishment, and hence, you feel cool. But the reality is that you are still living in a ghetto, and you have nothing to lose except for the recognition of your identity. The song refers to the harsh social and economic realities that people living in the ghetto face and how they are trapped in a system that does not give them equal opportunities.
Further, the song continues to comment on the welfare system and how people who receive welfare checks think they are cool. They find solace in the fact that their needs are being met and that they have a form of income. But they also highlight the harsh reality of the welfare system, which comes with a cost. You might not have anything to lose in the short term, but in the long term, you risk losing your self-respect and dignity. The song talks about the different ways people cope with living in the ghetto, and how addiction is prevalent in these areas. The lyrics also highlight how the system perpetuates the vicious cycle of poverty and hardship, and how that is something that can be hard to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you think you're cool
You feel like you're doing well in life
Lord if they bus your kids to school
If the government provides a bus for your kids to go to a better school
Just cause they bus your kids to school
Only because the government provides a bus for your kids to go to a better school
But you ain't got a thing to lose
You don't realize the potential risks or consequences of being in this situation
You just got the get out of the ghetto blues
You're just trying to escape the poverty and hardships of the ghetto, without knowing the risks
If you're gettin' two welfare checks
If you receive welfare assistance from the government
Because you're gettin' two welfare checks
You're only happy because of the extra money you receive through welfare assistance
Yea but you got ten years to lose (if they catch you)
You may face a penalty or imprisonment if you're caught doing something you shouldn't be doing, despite receiving welfare assistance
Just tryin' to fight that get out of the ghetto blues
Trying to do whatever it takes to get out of the ghetto, no matter the risks or consequences
If he don't catch you in the wash
If you don't get caught by the police initially
Lord knows he'll catch you in the rinse
The police will catch up to you eventually
Just cause you shooting that stuff in your arm
Using drugs intravenously
I seen you nodding
I've witnessed you falling asleep or nodding off due to drug use
You got the get out of the ghetto blues
You're trying to escape the hardships of the ghetto through drug use, but it won't lead to a better outcome
And it don't matter which pine box you choose
No matter the cause of death, whether it's through drug use or not, you'll still end up in a coffin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN JACKSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@voicegirl555
Gone 10 years today, but never never forgotten. The Godfather of Rap. The greatest there ever was and ever will be. Today's rappers pale next to him. They say nothing but crap.
@akobenra1924
I am compelled to state that I have listened to Brutha Gil Scott-Heron since I was 15 years old, and from that very first time I have established as well as maintained an unending degree of respect and honor, and reverence for the brutha's creative genius, composed in his soul stirring mind/thought provoking rhythmically sound, and messages that are interlaced in each piece that he ever produced! Brutha Gil's work is timeless and invaluable for understanding of peace truth and life, life, particularly here in The Red-White and the Blue " Amerikku!
May Brutha Gil's soul be blessed in time in memorial for the honorary African Arts Genius, that he gave to humanity.
@mellowjames1
Every rapper who ever did his thing is but a pale shadow to this great musician, poet and thinker.
@Whatisjazz3104
Yes - this man was , is and will always be blessed by God . Definately blessed by the Spirits .
And he passed the blessings on to us , so now we are blessed . Thank u brother Gil - peace and love and your spirit will always be alive
@Neilp481
This is not music, this is not a song, this is the finest poetry my ears has ever had the honor to hear. GIl Scott-Heron, father of hip hop, father of poetry. Man, this man is so inspirational.
@Odin_Limaye
Absolutely amazing song!
@richardmbowman
The man is one of America's greatest poets....living or dead. R.I.P. (rap in paradise) Gil.....
@mumufeeder
In awe of such greatness, such power, such eloquence. The art of music has been lost today..
@citeaux63
The man lived a long and hard life. I know where he came from and can relate to all his music. Drugs can change a lot of things but Gil gave all he had every day.
@rickrolledtruth5834
Salute, hip hop pioneer