Blogz.
Gil Scott-Heron Mini Tribute Mix.
“If I hadn’t been as eccentric, as obnoxious, as arrogant, as aggressive, as introspective, as selfish, I wouldn’t be me. I wouldn’t be who I am.” – Gil Scott-Heron, 2009
Last year a friend of mine at XL Records asked me to put together a short mix to help promote Gil Scott-Heron’s I’m New Here album. I was instructed to include a handful of classic Gil tracks along with some of the hip-hop records that sampled them, as well as songs from the new album. In addition I was given some interview snippets with Gil in which he discussed his life and career to try to work in wherever possible.
My end goal – besides integrating all the disparate elements as smoothly as possible – was to capture the stark, somber beauty of I’m New Here – a challenge because the album was so uniquely a piece of its own, an emotional open wound sonically unlike anything he’d recorded before. But I thought it came out well.
As it so happened the mix wound up getting lost in the sauce in the run-up to I’m New Here‘s release. With yesterday’s heart-breaking news of Gil Scott-Heron’s passing, I thought I’d post it up here to share, a brief homage to this legendary artist/activist/thinker, and his brilliant final project. I hope you enjoy it.
For those of us who’ve been indelibly influenced by him there will never be another. Gil Scott-Heron, Rest In Power.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
YOU MIGHT WANNA PEEP:
The combination of this mix & the breeze on my fire escape is making me cry. But it’s a good one. Healthy. Thank you.
Thnx for listening, Canela. GHS forever.
Its tough OG !!!
I’ve been a Gil fan for 40 yrs and have been surfing the net for tributes for 2 days now. This is the most outstanding contribution to his memory – ironic it was made to promote his return and lost on the way. However its place has been found and it has helped me turn a corner in the grieving process.
I’d love to know more about your work – please contact me
Thanks – Peace go with you brother
Fantastic, can i get a DL? Need this in my head while walking in real world right now.
…its funny… this mix has more heart, than most of the dross that gets spat out on the net. it affects in a very heartfelt way, even with its short length. i hope it becomes available for download, or better yet, those who want it, should be able to pay for it, knowing the proceeds go to mr scott-heron’s family.
thank you
Thnx to everyone for the feedback. I’m very humbled by the response. Since the mix was originally conceived as a promo only thing to be streamed on-line to help spark interest the “I’m New Here” album, I’d rather stay true to the original intent & not put it out there for download. I hope folks will honor Gil Scott-Heron’s memory by picking up “I’m New Here” or any of the other classic LPs from his back catalog.
Thanks, Jeff. It’s been too long, man.
This is excellent. It’s fresh and really captures the man’s essence, especially his GSH we saw in his last years. Great work — and greatly appreciated!
great work, very nice!
can i ask what version of “Home is where the Hatred is” is in this tribute?
Bryan! Good to hear from you, man.
It’s the regular studio version, but pitched down some to match w/ the Kanye/Common song that follows. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the tech know-how to keep tempo w/o changing pitch or I would have. Hopefully it doesn’t detract from either song too much.
man, ur skills are fine -this tribute stays groovy until the end, much respect! i’d check those Kanye West and Common – My Way Home version as i am baby on that new stuff – kinda short for what i hear but in this tribute fitts great ..thx