Re: Origins of Rap

Simon Brown (zcfbm25@ucl.ac.uk)
Mon, 19 Feb 1996 13:13:30 +0000

>As for the origin of Rap, I think you'd have to go farther back than toasting.
>Traditional African music has many chants which tell stories, and are *not*
>sung...likewise, the Southern Baptist tradition of preaching over a gospel
>choir must have had some influence on rap's birth as well. While Toasting is
>the direct antecedent of rap, it is not alone.
>
>That'll be $.02
>
>Mike

As a Blues nut (as well as an AJ fan) I alsO thought that the oRigins of rap
were To be found in tradItiONal African music. as are the origins of Blues
and jazz. And fOR That matter jungle, techno, dance, rock, pop etc. etc.
etc. all owe hugely to afrIcan music. yet with the exceptiON of music lovers
(eg. ourselves) very few people know of this debt of grAtitude which modern
music owes to its african roots. without these african influences most
people would still only Be listening tO classical music (not a flame, but
vaRieTy Is the spice Of life) and Not realising the greAt wealth of music
availaBle tO eveRyone Today. It's a frightening thOught, you kNow,

As always, against censorship

How can we make peace with those who would kill us?

Simon Brown
s.j.brown@ucl.ac.uk
UCL Geology (2nd year)