Weird Theory: The Scottish Origin of Rap
The theory, argued by Prof. Ferenc Szasz of the University of New Mexico, is that modern rap music derives from the ancient Caledonian art of "flyting", in which rival poets hurled obscene rhyming insults at each other. From the Telegraph:
The more conventional theory is that the roots of rap music trace back to ancient West African poets called "griots". From Wikipedia:
Actually, given the big gap in time between these two possible origins and the emergence of rap in the 1970s, both theories sound a little iffy to me.
Scottish slave owners took the tradition with them to the United States, where it was adopted and developed by slaves, emerging many years later as rap. Professor Szasz is convinced there is a clear link between this tradition for settling scores in Scotland and rap battles, which were famously portrayed in Eminem's 2002 movie 8 Mile.
The more conventional theory is that the roots of rap music trace back to ancient West African poets called "griots". From Wikipedia:
the griots of West Africa were delivering stories rhythmically, over drums and sparse instrumentation. Because of the time that has passed since the griots of old, the connections between rap and the African griots are widely established, but not clear-cut. However, such connections have been acknowledged by rappers, modern day "griots", spoken word artists, mainstream news sources, and academics.
Actually, given the big gap in time between these two possible origins and the emergence of rap in the 1970s, both theories sound a little iffy to me.
Comments
Personally I think both of these possible origins are BS. I thought rap music originated with inner-city black kids who couldn't afford to buy instruments. They started using mom and dad's turntable and albums, and started adding their own words.
In the fanatical church I was forced to attend as a child, I use to hear the same kind of crap about rock music. Some BS missionary who went to Africa and was surprised to find that the african drum beats sounded like the drum beats in rock music. And since these african tribes were pagan, the drum beats are evil thus rock music is evil.
In the fanatical church I was forced to attend as a child, I use to hear the same kind of crap about rock music. Some BS missionary who went to Africa and was surprised to find that the african drum beats sounded like the drum beats in rock music. And since these african tribes were pagan, the drum beats are evil thus rock music is evil.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/08/09 at 07:41 AM
What comes around goes around. You could pretty much link any type of todays music to any type of yesterdays music if you felt like it.
Posted by AGFH on 01/08/09 at 08:15 AM
And didn't Shakespeare invent the 'Yo momma' fight?
Posted by Matt in Florida on 01/08/09 at 09:14 AM
Yesterday I had to endure someone slighting country music and today along comes Edgar bad mouthing the pipes! What's this web page coming to!?!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/08/09 at 09:54 AM
Thou Mother is less enlightened than the common buffoon, when she watcheth 60 minutes an Hour shall pass twice for her to accomplish.
Posted by avmayes614 in the wt"F"-State on 01/08/09 at 10:30 AM
Props, Big Gary and avmayes!! Well doneth.
Posted by BikerPuppy on 01/08/09 at 11:21 AM
FOS - The melding you are discussing resulted in Blues...not rap. From there, blues gave birth to jazz and rock.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/08/09 at 12:26 PM
BTW, Expat, I think I would prefer the bagpipes over country any day. Unless you are discussing real country music and not the BS that is put out today by people who couldn't break into the rock industry.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/08/09 at 12:52 PM
No, Maxx, the REAL stuff from back when it was music! Roy, Tammy, Loretta, Tex, Johnny, and Elton.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/08/09 at 01:35 PM
Expat, don't forget good ol' Hank.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/08/09 at 01:41 PM
Maxx- Big Band and swing ushered in Jazz, Blues always existed and was an extension of gospel in african american circles. Country and blues together brought us Rock-n-Roll...OZZIE brought us METAL!
Posted by avmayes614 in the wt"F"-State on 01/08/09 at 03:48 PM
to understand the modern orgins of RAP & Hip Hop because the is a DIFFERENCE. I invite you all to D/L or purchase Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters early works or The Last Poets.
Posted by avmayes614 in the wt"F"-State on 01/08/09 at 03:50 PM
Thank you FOS! I was beginning to think I was the only one who appreciated Rap around here.
Posted by AGFH on 01/08/09 at 05:06 PM
As A Former musician (metal/Hardcore/Death bands) I greatly appreciate Rap and Hip Hop. We used to tour with 2 rap groups and always gigged locally with rap groups.
Posted by avmayes614 in the wt"F"-State on 01/08/09 at 05:58 PM
FOS, you're probably right that rap is harder than it seems. I do admit ignorance when it comes to rap music. I just don't care for what I have heard. I really don't care for country either or most jazz for that matter. But all of that is personal preference. As a musician, I can appreciate most forms of music. I guess, though, my opinion has been tainted by some of the rap I have heard that just samples older (rock or R&B;) music. The black community has so much to be proud of when it comes to their fantastic contribution to music. Without it, I don't know what the hell we'd be listening to.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/08/09 at 06:06 PM
BTW - The older I get the more square I become. It is just happening that way. I don't crank my music all the way up anymore and I don't like it when I have to listen to other peoples choice in music when I am at a redlight. But I feel that way regardless of the music being blared. Hell, I play guitar. 10 years ago it was Zeppelin and Hendrix...today it's Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. I still like rock but I prefer something a little more soothing. Damn...I do sound old!!
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/08/09 at 06:13 PM
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Category: Weird Theory