Me and the Devil

Poet, musician and polemicist Gil Scott-Heron is often called the "Grandfather of Hip-Hop"—such was the extent of his influence on the politically charged rap groups of the 80s and 90s. Born in 1949, Heron published his first novel, Vulture, at the age of 21, taking his impassioned verse into the studio to create debut album, Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, later that year. As great a thinker as he is a performer, Scott-Heron has always perceived music as a force for social change, using his songs to rail against Reaganism, mass consumerism, and racism over the course of more than 20 albums. His new record I’m New Here—his first in 16 years—is out February 12 from XL. The single, "Me and the Devil" follows on February 22. Welcome back, Gil.