In 2001, Scott-Heron was sentenced to one to three years’ imprisonment in New York State for possession of cocaine. He was released on parole in 2003. In 2006, Scott-Heron was sent to New York State prison again this time for violating a plea deal on a drug-possession charge by leaving a drug rehabilitation center. He admitted to being HIV-positive in 2008; and confirmed his early release from prison in 2007 was based on a lack of medication in the facility.
This series of events highlighted the long, sad struggle Gil had with drugs. It got the best of Gil, like it does most of its opponents, but what was unique and heroic about Gil Scott Heron, is that he never hid away from the battle or not articulate the struggle to those who wanted to know. Davey D also spoke about this courage when describing Gil: ” I guess the in many ways he was a Renaissance Man. They don’t look at him that way because of his substance abuse problems, which he was very public about. I think even that deserves some sort of credibility because how many would really take your addiction to heroin and then does a song like “Home is Where the Hatred Is?” How many people are gonna do a song like “Angel Dust at a time when people were getting strung out on that from coast to coast. How many people are gonna talk about the bottle and really speak in a way that people can go ‘that is my life.’ He wasn’t trying to hide it. As an artist who’s willing to smash on the system that was oppressing us, he was also willing to show a lot of vulnerability, a lot of compassion, a lot of love”
In 2010 Gil Scott released his last studio album called “I’m New Here”. It was produced by a young fan named Richard Russell who wanted to put Gil Scott vocals over hip hop tracks. The feedback and success of the album put Gil back in the spotlight. With notable performances with hip hop acts Common and Mos Def in 2010. My suggestion is to pick up the album, also check out the remixes Nas and Mos Def did to Gil Scott’s “New York is Killing Me.” Learn about the man, and find out he was more than some old school artist and poet. No Gil Scott Heron was a legend, icon and the GODFATHER.