Sounds like... spoken word soul?

exis

A friend introduced me to The Roots, which led to me coming across an awesome track called "The Return to Innocence Lost". I'm not quite sure what to classify it as. After having a poke around Wikipedia I'm going to go with 'spoken word soul'. Anyway, I'd really like to find some similar stuff. I've linked the only stuff that I've heard that comes close.

I think what I'm looking for could almost be described as really really slow-paced hip-hop. I tend to prefer a more somber tone but I'm willing to try whatever I can get my hands on.

Examples (some NSFW):

The singer here is Ursula Rucker... I had a look for more of her stuff but this seems pretty unique.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEi148KCh_U

I quite like The Streets, and this pretty much exemplifies what I really like about him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP-FAi39pQw

Gil Scott-Heron. I'm guessing everyone's heard this and "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqpV9olIlw

The Watts Prophets. Only just heard this after looking around Wikipedia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hAZtU8_aM

EskimoDave

I'd call the first and last Slam.

edit - same with the third one now that i've listened to more of it.

Aldo

Lupe Fiasco starts off The Cool with "Baba Says Cool for Thought"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7VQKd00_IQ

Then there is Mos Def. There is some stuff on YT where he reads poems, but at the moment I can only find one by Malcolm X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzC3ZKzkTOM

I think the genre of poetry these poems build on is Beatnik.

EggyToast

This sort of stuff is generally called Afrobeat.

You might enjoy the Radio Citizen album Berlin.

meeker

GO get Gil Scott-Heron's new album. You will love it.

geckahn

It's Spoken Word. Sometimes referred to as Slam poetry (poetry Slams are spoken word competitions).

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

Saul Williams.

starmanbrand

Some of my favorites.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbk08TmfllE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdSbLCFs-KY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1kHp5lLmk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6FHwZpB27U

mully

You might like some of Lauryn Hill's solo things - the whole album isn't like that, but there are songs on the album "the miseducation of lauryn hill" that sort of fit the bill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76eZd3FVW9Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1H_6eAonaY