Harlem's Last Poet

Before Hip-Hop had a name it had a voice and that voice was The Last Poets. The group came about, out of a compelling need to combat the oppression they not only saw but experienced. The Last Poets defined the political upheaval of a generation of Black people in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The group was trying to be a beacon of hope to Black people in America but their influence was felt around the world. Their firebrand of political poetry set to a sparse soundtrack of percussion were the seeds that grew into Hip-hop. Of all the members of the Last Poets no one has consistently carried the torch for the group like Abiodun Oyewole. Abiodun isn't just a revolutionary poet because he wrote about revolution, Abiodun is a revolutionary poet because he put he converted his political thought and words and artistry into political action and served time in prison for doing so. Harlem's Last Poet will follow Abiodun as he works with a group of extremely talented musicians to create a concept album that will document his life. As we follow that story arc Abiodun will speak about his life. At key moments in these recollections about Abiodun's life there are short surreal, hallucinatory, dream like reenactments that are fleetingly woven into the narrative. When the album is near completion the film will follow the preparation of a concert at the world famous Apollo theater in Harlem. The film will then follow the group traveling to London to do a show with Jamaican dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson who was highly influenced by the Last Poets. The film concludes with Abiodun's concert with Linton Kwesi Johnson.