The godfather of rap had a ‘brother’, and he’s coming to Australia

by · Australian Financial Review

Michael BaileyArts & Culture editor
May 14, 2026 – 5.00am

Modern music owes a lot to the day in 1969 when 17-year-old pianist and composer Brian Jackson was introduced to a fellow student at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University – a 19-year-old published poet, singer and proto-rapper named Gil Scott-Heron.

Over the next decade, the pair would create indelible classics including The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, The Bottle and Winter in America, helping to invent hip-hop and bring revolutionary consciousness to soul music along the way.

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Michael BaileyArts & Culture editorMichael Bailey writes on arts and culture, and edits Weekend Fin. He is a former editor of the Financial Review Rich List. He is based in Sydney. Connect with Michael on Twitter. Email Michael at m.bailey@nine.com.au

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