Gylan Kain, a poet and performer from Harlem, who helped found the influential spoken-word collective The Last Poets in the late 1960s, passed away on February 7 in Lelystad, the Netherlands at the age of 81. His son Rufus Kain announced that his death was due to complications from heart disease. The news of his passing was not widely reported at that time.
As a member of The Last Poets, along with David Nelson and Abiodun Oyewole, Kain was instrumental in laying the foundation for rap music with their fiery poetic performances about racism and oppression set to pulsing drum beats. Linked with the Black Arts Movement, which ran parallel to the Black Power movement of the 1960s and ’70s, The Last Poets aimed to provoke political change through their confrontational and revolutionary artistry.
The Last Poets first emerged onto the public stage in 1968 at a tribute event for Malcolm X in Harlem, during a time of great social upheaval following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Their performances, characterized by sharp wordplay and rhythmic intensity, resonated with a generation of Black Americans calling for transformation.
While the Last Poets were viewed as pioneers of performance poetry, their impact extended far beyond their time, with their influence being felt in the burgeoning hip-hop scene of the late 20th century. Their innovative style of blending poetry and music laid the groundwork for modern rap, as acknowledged by figures like Chuck D of Public Enemy, who credited them and Gil Scott-Heron with shaping the genre.
Gylan Kain, born Frank Gillen Oates, had roots in Harlem and the Bronx, where he was exposed to the transformative power of language at an early age through church oratory and theater. He later adopted the name Gylan Kain, inspired by the poet Dylan Thomas and the biblical figure Cain.
Kain’s contributions to the arts scene extended beyond his work with The Last Poets, including founding the Far East Theater in Manhattan and acting in productions at the Public Theater in New York. He eventually relocated to Amsterdam in the mid-1980s, continuing to pursue his artistic endeavors in a new environment.
Although The Last Poets faced internal conflicts and lineup changes over the years, their collective impact on the cultural landscape endured. Despite the uncertainties in their early days, Kain reflected on the transformative power of their collaborative efforts, likening it to the gradual emergence of music from diligent practice.
