Page 262 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013
Basic HTML Version
487
●
(MUSIC—RAP, HIP-HOP.) GYLAN KAIN, FELIPE LUCIANO & DAVID
NELSON, THE “LAST POETS.”
Right On!
Poster for the film of the Last Poets, 27
1
⁄
2
x
20
3
⁄
4
inches; faint damp-stain through the left side.
New York, 1970
[1,500/2,500]
ONE OF ONLY THREE KNOWN SURVIVING COPIES
.
The Last Poets, a group of three revolu-
tionary poets, consisting of Gylan Kain, Felipe Luciano and David Nelson, were the earliest
group to perform what would eventually become “Rap.” The group’s name wass taken from a
poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who believed he was in
the last era of poetry before guns would take over. The original Last Poets (later groups used
the name) were formed on May 19, 1968—Malcolm X’s birthday—symbolically at Marcus
Garvey Park in East Harlem. Critic Jason Ankeny wrote of the group: “With their politically
charged raps, taut rhythms, and dedication to raising African-American consciousness, the Last
Poets almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop.” The British
music magazine NME stated, “Serious spokesmen like Gil Scott-Heron, Gary Byrd, and the
Last Poets paved the way for the many socially committed Black [emcees] a decade later.” The
Last Poets did cut an LP and fortunately for the history of “rap” a movie was made of the
Last Poets called Right On. It featured numbers by the group and was shot almost entirely on
New York’s Lower East Side. This poster is one of only three known copies.
488
●
(MUSIC—RAP, HIP-HOP.) GYLAN KAIN, FELIPE LUCIANO & DAVID
NELSON, THE “LAST POETS.”
Original manuscript book of lyrics by the Last
Poets
Over 100 pages of typed poetry of Gylan Kain, Felipe Luciano and David Nelson;
ink corrections etc. hole-punched and contained in a loose-leaf binder.
SHOULD BE SEEN
New York, 1969-1970
[3,500/5,000]
489
●
(MUSIC—RAP, HIP-HOP.) GYLAN KAIN, FELIPE LUCIANO & DAVID
NELSON, THE “LAST POETS.”
Right On!
Small poster, 17 x 11 inches, printed on
heavy cardstock with revues of the film together with the original press kit for the film:
large, square sheet, folded to form four pages.
New York, 1970
[1,000/1,500]
487
489
