Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, co-founder of the Last Poets, passed away Monday night (June 4), following a battle with cancer. He was 74.
He was best known for his work with the long-running spoken-word group, earning him the title of "Grandfather of Rap."
Nuriddin helped found the Last Poets, contributing to their 1969 self-titled album and 1970's This Is Madness.
In 1973 he released Hustlers Convention under the pseudonym Lightin' Rod, which went on to become a major influence on the hip-hop genre. Chuck D produced a documentary of the same name about the album in 2015.
The Last Poets released a statement via Facebook regarding the passing of Nuriddin. Read it below.
The Last Poets just recently released their latest album Understand What Black Is last month. You can read a recent Exclaim! interview with the group here.
Revisit the Last Poets' "New York, New York" below.
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He was best known for his work with the long-running spoken-word group, earning him the title of "Grandfather of Rap."
Nuriddin helped found the Last Poets, contributing to their 1969 self-titled album and 1970's This Is Madness.
In 1973 he released Hustlers Convention under the pseudonym Lightin' Rod, which went on to become a major influence on the hip-hop genre. Chuck D produced a documentary of the same name about the album in 2015.
The Last Poets released a statement via Facebook regarding the passing of Nuriddin. Read it below.
The Last Poets just recently released their latest album Understand What Black Is last month. You can read a recent Exclaim! interview with the group here.
Revisit the Last Poets' "New York, New York" below.
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