Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil
Directed by Coodie & Chike and Michael Sterling Eaton
2010

Brother Gil is back! Pioneer of hip-hop/spoken word/socio-political 70’s soul and one of my personal favs has a new album titled I’m New Here, which comes out next month on XL Recordings (!). His new single is a modern version of ”Me and the Devil Blues” by the equally legendary blues pioneer Robert Johnson.

This video reminds me of the documentary Dark Days by Marc Singer with its gritty black/white portrait of New York City. That plus The Warriors but with…skaters in Dia De Los Muertos makeup instead. Whatever, it works. Gil Scott-Heron is back in 2010. This is good news you guys!!!

NERD TRIVIA: According to legend, Robert Johnson made a deal with the Devil in exchange for his guitar playing skills; skills which paved the way for delta blues and subsequently, rock n’ roll. (This Faust-like story has since been a reoccurring theme in blues culture as well as recently in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou, and in episodes of Mighty Boosh and Metalocalypse.)