Rap was around long before it was actually called rap. Rap started out as an oral form of storytelling and the telling of ones history by the social commentator, also known as a Griot. The griot was a historian, storyteller, comedian, reporter, mediator, social commentator, and sometimes performer of religious ceremonies and rites of passage. Griots had to possess musical abilities. Griots often accompanied themselves on a harplike instrument calle

By the 1940s and 1950s, black disc jockeys were adding to the language and style of jazz. Deejays attracted huge audiences in cities across the nation. Between spinning records and instrumental breaks of songs, deejays passed messages between lovers, commented on local affairs all while keeping listeners entertained with catchy lines and phrases. Such talk became known as jive talk. The jive and rhyming skills of deejays had a great deal to do with their individual popularity. In this sense, they were the forefathers of the deejay/performer role that many early rappers assumed.

One of the biggest myths about slavery is that slave dealers and owners destroyed the spirit of their African captives. From the start of captivity in Africa, white slave dealers initiated strict program of control and domination over their captives. It began with speech. Before Africans descended into the holds of slave ships, they were separated from other members of their families and tribes. They were mixed with people from different regions and split up from those who spoke the same language.

Southern states, especially South Florida, are well known for the fast, booty popping beats that accompany most of the songs by artist from the area. Most of the artists that reside in South Florida live in Miami. Miami is known for its sunny beaches, big ballers (people with money), sexy women, and handsome men. Sex sells and that is what a lot of the artist try to incorporate within the lyrics of their songs. Uncle Luke is the world-renowned nasty man. He is known for his sexual and vulgar lyrics and dancing. At one of his shows you came always get your eye full, by watching people almost, if not actually having sex and/or participating in some type of sexual gesture.

Today, there is an array of hip-hop artists, both male and female. With an increase in the amount of artists, hip-hop has went from being just something to do to being a way of living. Rap has emerged from being just rap to being, East Coast, West Coast, and Down South Rap.

Rappers also rely on hip-hop/rap to give representation to their hometown or set. With a close listen to the lyrics of most rap songs you will hear rappers sneak in a mention of them being from one particular place. For example, the female rapper Eve always like to make mention to the fact that Philly is where she is from. Philly is short for Philadelphia.

After the freeing of slaves in 1863 a period known as the Reconstruction Era began; which lasted from 1866 to 1877. Up until 1917, the livelihood of most blacks remained in the South. During that year the United States entered World War I. Many of the industrialized male workers of the North entered the armed forces; newly emerging industries needed factory workers. Word of available jobs in the North reached the South. About 2 million blacks migrated from the South. Into urban areas, such as Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and New York in search of a better life through new jobs in factories. This movement was known as the Great Migration. As blacks entered these urban areas, the African-American oral and musical traditions gave birth to the development of rap at an astonishing rate. Out of this period the blues emerged giving birth to j

Some common words found in the essay are:
Middle Passage, Louis York, Bambaata Bronx, Arrested Development, York City, Uncle Luke, North Atlantic, Philly Philly, World War, Native American's, atlantic slave, slave trade, atlantic slave trade, sugar hill gang, slave dealers, religious ceremonies, east coast, talk jive, west coast, african-american oral, north atlantic slave, north atlantic, black kids,
Approximate Word count = 2196
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)