Things Gonna Get Greater:
The Watts Prophets 1969-1971
(Water)

My history with the Watts Prophets goes back more than ten years, when I represented them in the negotiation of their 1997 comeback album on London Records entitled, “When The Nineties Came”. At the time I was also representing the Last Poets and Don Cherry, other artists whose diverse musical paths preceded rap and hiphop by more than a decade, and whose influence have been heard ever since.

The first two albums from these pre-rap pioneers, "The Black Voices: On The Streets In Watts" (1969) and "Rappin' Black In A White World" (1971) are radical, incendiary statements of emerging black consciousness which have been released together on CD for the first time (with two bonus tracks) by Water records an in-house imprint of Berkeley-based Runt Distribution. Thanks to my friend Pat Thomas at Runt, I have reconnected with the Watts Prophets upon the release of this great package of their early recordings.

The Watts Prophets are Richard Dedeux, Amde Hamilton and Otis O’Solomon who live, work and create in Watts, California, something they have done for more than thirty years. In 1967, these three, the best of the students in the prestigious Watts Writers Workshop, won their first amateur talent contest as a nameless group. But then, after they recited/chanted/ spoke/sung/witnessed their unique jazz-accompanied topical poem, an audience member - dazzled by their performance - shouted, “They must be the Watts Prophets!”

The West Coast's answer to the Last Poets, Watts Prophets didn't get quite the same recognition for their contributions to raising black consciousness and laying the foundations for rap. The group was formed at the Watts Writer's Workshop, an organization started by screenwriter Budd Schulberg designed to provide a creative outlet in the wake of the 1965 Watts riots.

The earliest work by the twenty-something aged poets (as documented in their earliest recordings) was an expression of their rage against powerlessness. Racism, poverty, and violence were their everyday reality and provided the thematic foundation for what become a very unique style - what many today acknowledge as the roots of rap.

The Prophets
Amde Anthony Hamilton
Upon joining the Watts Writer’s Worshop under Budd Schulberg (What Makes Sammy Run, Oscar for On The Waterfront), Mr. Hamilton entered into a new phase in his life and emerged as one of The Watts Prophets. Success was fleeting and more emotionally satisfying than financially remunerative. After the first flush, Mr. Hamilton spent a year teaching poetry at San Francisco State, but quickly came back to his roots in Watts doing social work with the Brotherhood Crusade, then in various capacities in numerous programs - e.g., Coodinator of special programs at Drew Postgraduate Medical School, Associate Director of Black Commission on Alcoholism, then as president of Classic Cut (contractors) and as a youth counselor. During all this time, Mr. Hamilton kept his art alive and when a new generation of African-American poetics began to emerge attention was once again focussed on the Watts Prophets. London Records came round with a contract and tours were arranged. But the Prophets had grown and now seek to bring their special art to an audience which needs and deserves their experience and their wisdom.

Otis O’Solomon
Mr. O’Solomon, too, became one of The Watts Prophets after the Watts Writer’s Worshop. Once the initial success had passed Mr. O’Solomon embarked on a career in the arts, editing and designing a book of original poetry from The Watts Prophets work and other poets, writing for the Los Angeles TImes, producing poetry exhibitions and contests under the banner of his company, Artistic Heart; and presenting programs on Black History for Xerox, TRW, Rockwell, and Hughes Aircraft. He wrote the commentary material for song books on Quincy Jones, Marvin Hamlisch, Cannonball Adderly, and worked in television, film and the music world. During all this time, Mr. O’Solomon was honing his special art and when a new generation of African-American poetics began to emerge attention was once again focussed on the Watts Prophets. London Records came round with a contract and tours were arranged. But the Prophets had grown and now seek to bring their special art to an audience which needs and deserves their experience and their wisdom.

Richard Anthony Dedeaux
After first few years as one of The Watts Prophets, Mr. Dedeaux started working as a free lance producer for KCET, KNBC and other stations. He had a stint as a Creative Writing Instructor for the Los Angeles City Schools, the Mafundi Institute in Watts, and at the Pasadena Community Center. He has acted with the Irish Repertoire Theater and other organizations and toured the country reading poetry, and appearing opposite Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder. During all this time, Mr. O’Solomon was honing his special art and when a new generation of African-American poetics began to emerge attention was once again focussed on the Watts Prophets. London Records came round with a contract and tours were arranged. But the Prophets had grown and now seek to bring their special art to an audience which needs and deserves their experience and their wisdom.

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