However, the roots and influences of rapping can be traced back further:
Oral Traditions and Poetry: Rap draws inspiration from African and African-American oral traditions, which include storytelling, poetry, and call-and-response techniques.
Toasts: "Toasting," a form of spoken word performance often associated with African-American communities, featured rhythmic, improvised storytelling and exaggeration. Rappers like Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz were influenced by this tradition.
Funk Music: Funk music of the 1970s, particularly its focus on rhythm and strong beats, contributed to the development of rap's rhythmic style.
Disco: The influence of disco music, with its danceable rhythms and catchy hooks, can also be heard in early rap music.
DJ Culture: In the early days of hip hop, DJs would play records at block parties and clubs, extending instrumental breaks and encouraging people to dance and express themselves. This atmosphere laid the foundation for rapping as an art form.
Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation: Afrika Bambaataa is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of hip hop culture. His Universal Zulu Nation, formed in the late 1970s, promoted unity and artistic expression, including rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti.
Block Parties and Community Events: Rap music found a space to flourish at block parties and community gatherings, where DJs and MCs engaged with the audience and improvised performances.
Breakbeat DJing: DJs began isolating and extending specific sections of records, known as "breaks" (often the drum-heavy parts), which became the basis for rap performances.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, with their innovative DJ techniques and MCs such as Melle Mel and Scorpio, popularized rap as a central element of hip hop culture in the early 1980s.
So, while rapping as a distinct art form emerged in the Bronx as part of hip hop culture in the late 1970s, its roots and influences can be found in oral traditions, poetry, music genres like funk and disco, and the creative energy of DJs, MCs, and block party culture.