Gil Scott-Heron Dies

"Godfather of rap" influenced many artists, including Kanye West and Common.

The "godfather of rap", Gil Scott-Heron, died Friday at 62. It was not immediately known what caused Scott-Heron's death at a New York hospital. The poet and musician first gained notoriety for his poetry and spoken word performances in the late 1960s, but he is best known for his controversial 1970 song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which was considered so inflammatory it was banned by some radio stations at the time. His music has been sampled by such current rappers as Kanye West and Common. Scott-Heron released his latest album, "I'm New Here", last year after a 13-year hiatus.