Gylan Kain was a groundbreaking poet whose work with The Last Poets helped create modern performance poetry and set the stage for rap music.
- Died: February 7, 2024 (Who else died on February 7?)
- Details of death: Died in Lelystad, Netherlands, of heart disease at the age of 81.
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Gylan Kain’s legacy
Born in Harlem, Kain got together with David Nelson and Abiodun Oyewole in the 1960s, all of them part of the Black Arts Movement of the era. Together, they formed The Last Poets, a poetry and art collective whose rhythmic, staccato approach to recital transformed how verse could be presented and set the stage for modern performance poetry. Often set to an instrumental background, it also became an early example of what would evolve into rap music.
In 1971, Kain and the group created the film “Right On!” for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It has since been honored in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Kain made his solo debut in 1970 with the album “The Blue Guerilla,” a collection of spoken word performances and poetry set to music.
Starting in the ‘70s, Kain turned to the stage, acting in such works about the life of Malcolm X as “When the Chickens Came Home to Roost.” After moving to Amsterdam in 1984, he continued to release albums, including “Feel This” in 1997 and “Electric Barbarian” in 2004. Kain also appeared in films, notably “Wings of Fame” in 1990 and “The Turner Revelation” in 1995.
Over the years, Kain’s work has been sampled in a wide array of hip-hop songs, including work by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and others.
Tributes to Gylan Kain
Full obituary: The New York Times
