Gil Scott-Heron, credited with inspiring rap, dies

Gil Scott-Heron, a U.S. poet and songwriter credited with helping inspire the development of rap music, has died at age 62, according to media reports on Saturday. Scott-Heron died on Friday at a New York hospital, National Public Radio said, citing his book publisher. He fell ill after returning from a trip to Europe, news reports said. The Chicago-born artist was called the "Godfather of Rap", a term he disliked, for his groundbreaking spoken-word performances set to music, including

"The Revolution Will Not be Televised" in the early 1970s. He recorded more than a dozen albums and was hailed as an important influence by hip-hop performers such as Kanye West. Considered a voice of African-American activism, Scott-Heron was also a musical critic of apartheid and nuclear power. After serving a prison sentence for drug possession, Scott-Heron released an acclaimed album last year, "I'm New Here".

American Idol Drops One Like It's Nothing

Well, it wasn't coming into Thursday's elimination show, when the fates of seven bright-eyed hopefuls still hung in the balance.

What did we learn tonight, besides that Casey Abrams, James Durbin and Scotty McCreery should never sing "Viva La Vida" all together ever again?

Nothing new, really.

Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk made up the bottom two and the trapdoor ultimately opened underneath Stefano.

It was the Ne-Yo, we tell you, the Ne-Yo! If you want to do dance-party R&B on this show...just don't.

Hence, it was the end of the road for the 21-year-old wild card from Kent, Wash., who recovered from a devastating accident in just enough time to give his singing career a jolt by trying out for Idol.

"It started my career, and that's something you can't put a price on. That's everything," he told Ryan Seacrest after the elimination. "I'm just so blessed, I came this far, and it's great! It really is!"

So, another close shave for Jacob, who avoided the bottom three last week after performing Simon & Garfunkle's "Bridge Over Trouble Water," but was right back in it after last night's emotional rendition of Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father."

But who was alongside them in the bottom three?

"Scotty, wow, you are safe," Ryan informed the perpetually safe country singer, sending him to sit with Casey, James and Lauren Alaina, and sending Haley Reinhart to fill the last bottom-three stool—for about 30 seconds.

Instead of making her wait through Katy Perry and Kanye West's "E.T" performance, Ryan sidled up to Haley, told her to return with him to the middle of the stage, and then shooed her off to safety.

And then there were six. Next week, Haley, Casey, Lauren, James, Jacob and Scotty will try to weave a pretty tapestry with the tunes of Carole King.