On May 19, 1968—Malcolm X’s birthday and just weeks after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—The Last Poets were formed in Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem. Founded by David Nelson, Gylan Kain, and Abiodun Oyewole, the group used poetry and percussion to channel Black rage, resistance, and cultural pride. They soon expanded from three poets and a drummer to a powerful collective of seven young Black and Hispanic artists. The Last Poets are widely recognized as forefathers of hip hop, fusing spoken word with rhythm to create politically charged performances that captured the spirit of Black liberation.
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