The Last Poets is an African American music and spoken-word group founded in the late 1960s in East Harlem, New York. They blend poetry and music rooted in the African American civil rights movement and Black nationalism. Their name, inspired by revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, reflects Kgositsile’s belief that he lived in poetry’s final era before it became overshadowed by violence—specifically gun violence. 

The group was founded by Abiodun Oyewole, David Nelson, and Gylan Kain in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park on May 19, 1968—the anniversary of Malcolm X’s birthday. Originally a trio accompanied by a drummer, they expanded to a collective of seven dynamic Black and Hispanic poets—Umar bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, David Nelson, Gylan Kain, Felipe Luciano, Jalal Mansur Nuruddin, Suliaman El Hadi—and were supported by two drummers, Nilaja Obabi and Baba Don. Their seminal works, including “Niggers are Scared of Revolution,” “This is Madness,” “When the Revolution Comes,” and “Gashman,” are featured on their groundbreaking albums, The Last Poets (Douglas Records, 1970) and This Is Madness (Douglas Records, 1971).

Since their inaugural recording, The Last Poets have significantly shaped the hip-hop genre. Terms they introduced, such as “party and bullshit,” have become ingrained in hip-hop culture. Their collaborations with contemporary icons like Nas, Common, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Styles P, and Dead Prez have produced critically-acclaimed projects. They also made their mark in HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam,” appeared in the film Poetic Justice (1993), joined the Lollapalooza tour (1994), and performed at venues worldwide.