The Book entitled “Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali the First Heavyweight Champion of Rap” proclaims Ali could have very well been the first rapper. Which would mean that Rap originated in Kentucky during the `60s as oppose to the popular notion of its origins in the Bronx during the ‘70s.
“Before there was rap … there was Ali Rap … a topsy-turvy, jivey jargon that only Ali could create, but a language we could all understand,” writes the books editor, George Lois.
Though there are many that will disagree with the notion of Ali being the first rapper, there are already many who are in his corner.”He was able to engage his social surroundings into his whole persona. That’s what hip-hop was able to do — to be an antenna for social reflection,” said Chuck D of Public Enemy. “He’s one of the few black people to get on TV in the ‘60s and speak their minds — thank God — and also back up what he talked about.”
Ali often spoke out about the injustice in America, as well as his religion, racism, and Vietnam. As a youth he earned nicknames “The Louisville Lip” and “Mighty Mouth.”
“Where do you think I would be if I didn’t shout and holler?” he once said. “I would be poor and down in Louisville washing windows, shining shoes or running an elevator and saying `Yes suh’ and `No suh,’ and knowing my place.”
“This guy is done. I’ll stop him in one.”
COMMENTS
I CAN SEE THAT. ALI BUSTED HIS FREESTYLES ON CAMERA DURING THE MID 1960'S, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE BIRTH OF HIP HOP. HE WAS JUST AHEAD OF HIS TIME, ONE OF THOSE GREAT INDIVIDUALS THAT GIVE A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE BY BEING HIM/HERSELF TO THE FULLEST WITHOUT FEAR OF SOCIETAL PRESSURE. THE YOUNG CATS THAT WERE THE FOUNDERS OF HIP HOP AS WE KNOW IT PROBABLY SAW ALI AS THE FOUNDATION TO WHAT THE MC DID AND HOW HE DID IT. ALI WAS ONE OF THE FEW BLACKS SEEN ON TV BACK THEN, SO IT IS NOT OUT OF REASON FOR ALI TO HAVE BEEN THE TRUE FOREFATHER OF FREESTYLING. ONCE THE FOUNDERS HEARD THE TRACKS AND GOT THAT VIBE, THEY DID WHAT THEY HAD BEEN SEEING ALI DO. CAUSE SEEING THEM NOW(HIS OLD INTERVIEWS THAT HE FREESTYLED ON) ALI WAS KINDA TIGHT IN THE FLOW SIDE! PEACE
ya that's tru, so what does that say, faggot kay slay needs to gets his facts right before he try to say hip hop started in new york, ya right,
many people don't noe dat Ali was da 1st 2 do dat & I think Ali fo dat
ALL YALL MUST BE CRAZY!!! ALI IS NOT THE FIRST RAPPER. ACTUALLY, IT WAS MY MAN MR. RUDY RAY MOORE A.K.A. DOLEMITE. HE WAS THROUGH WITH IT BEFORE ALI KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH IT!!! EVEN LAWANDA PAGE HAS A FEW "RAPS" UNDER HER BELT BEFORE ALI STEPPED INTO THE RING WITH SONNY LISTON. WHY IS DOLEMITE NOT GETTING THE CREDIT FOR THINGS THAT HE STARTED LIKE COMEDIANS THAT USED CURSE WORDS IN THEIR ROUTINES. MOST PEOPLE THINK IT WAS RICHARD PRYOR BUT RICHRD PRYOR USED TO TELL JOKES LIKE BILL COSBY THEN HE STARTED TELL DIRTY JOKES LIKE DOLEMITE. DOLEMITE IS HIS NAME AND F#CKIN UP MUTHAF#CKAS IS HIS GAME. IMO IT IS MESSED UP THAT THIS MAN IS NOT RECOGNIZED FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
MAN ALI WAS THE GREATEST AND I FEEL U ON THE FACT THAT HE WAS DA 1ST RAPPER
Dr. Suess anyone ...theres a wocket in my pocket???