The Last Poets

The Last Poets are a pioneering spoken word group born from the fiery crucible of the late 1960s Black Power movement. Emerging in New York in 1968, this collective of poets and musicians, hailing from the ghettos of Detroit, the Bronx, Queens, and Akron, Ohio, fused their powerful oratory with rhythmic musicality to give voice to the socially downtrodden. Dubbed the "godfathers of hip-hop" and "the village elders of the rap world," The Last Poets created influential albums that blend groove with profound social commentary. Their work, characterized by lucid and charismatic poetry, continues to resonate, inspiring collaborations with contemporary jazz and Afrobeat artists. With members like Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan, The Last Poets remain a vital force in spoken word, their artistry a testament to the enduring power of poetry as a tool for change.