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Last Poets

Contains 10 performances.

Often called the grandfathers of hip-hop, The Last Poets are one of the defining acts that emerged from the 1960s Black Arts Movement in America. Their line-up of members has shifted a few times since their founding in 1968, the most well-known being that consisting of Jalal Mansur Nuriddina aka Alafia Pudim (d. 2018), Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyowele and Sulaiman El-Hadi (d. 1995) along with Nilaja Obabi (d. 1981) on percussion.

Despite this, their commitment to ‘raising African-American consciousness’ has remained constant, with a performance style and innovative use of language and rhythm that arguably laid the groundwork for everything from hip-hop to today’s slam scene. The members were less active after 1999, excepting intermittent appearances on hip-hop albums and compilations, but Oyowele and Bin Hassan have more recently been getting back into action alongside percussionist Baba Donn Babatunde. In 2018 they released the album ‘Understand What Black Is’, proving that they retain the ability to speak to the politics of race and oppression in their signature style even five decades on.

The Last Poets’ Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/The-LAST-POETS/

  • Architects of our Republic

    Architects of our Republic

    28 August 2013 at 
    Southbank Centre (30)
  • The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer

    The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer

    17 July 2015 at 
    Love Box Festival (1)
  • The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer @ Latitude

    The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer @ Latitude

    18 July 2015 at 
    Henham Hall (Southwold) (1)
  • The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer

    The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer

    19 July 2015 at 
    Jazz Café (3)
  • The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer

    The Last Poets: Speak Up Newcomer

    21 July 2015 at 
    Band on the Wall (Manchester) (3)
  • An Audience With The Last Poets

    An Audience With The Last Poets

    23 July 2015 at 
    Pop Brixton (6)
  • The Last Poets

    The Last Poets

    25 November 2016 at 
    Foyles Book Shop (2)
  • Heroes of Hip Hop: The Last Poets

    Heroes of Hip Hop: The Last Poets

    26 November 2016 at 
    Southbank Centre (30)
  • The Last Poets

    The Last Poets

    27 November 2016 at 
    Ronnie Scott's (1)
  • Brighton Festival: The Last Poets

    Brighton Festival: The Last Poets

    15 May 2018 at 
    Theatre Royal (Brighton) (1)
Latest comments
  • Bella on Contact usThe Spoken Word Archive is an amazing wealth of knowledge and history! It's so great to be able to track the progress of one's poetic heroes from grassroots to where they are now :) Thank you!
  • Fiona Marie on Lydia TomkiwThis is fascinating! It's sent me down an Algebra Suicide / Lydia Tomkiw researching wormhole.
Twitter
  • The launch of @Sundralawrence chapbook 'Warriors' will take place on 19 May and feature special guest performers… https://t.co/USFKyumQrq9 hours ago
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