13. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGaoXAwl9kw The late Spoken word artist Gil Scott-Heron is truly one of a kind. Scott-Heron's gritty voice is up there with Louis Armstrong's as one of the most familiar in the business, while his unique lyrics are the product of an MA in creative writing. This 1970 song and poem is recited by Scott-Heron and accompanied by congas and bongo drums to create something hugely forward-thinking. In short, this track was massively ahead of its time and would still create shock waves today. The song's title was originally a popular slogan among the 1960s Black Power movements in the United States, and its lyrics refer to several television advert slogans, as well as the period's icons of entertainment. It is these references to popular culture that serve as the basis for what the revolution will not be, or do. The track is still relevant today as its drum pattern is often quoted in modern hip-hop music. Gil Scott-Heron is a monumental figure in popular black music and one who would hit upon important political issues in his music and poetry.