When did rap first begin?

Rap's early roots can be traced back to the West African tradition of oral poetry, in which music and spoken word are combined. The use of call and response, along with the improvisational nature of these performances, laid the foundation for the rapping style that eventually emerged.

In the early 1970s, rap began to take shape as a unique form of musical expression within African American and Latino communities in the Bronx, New York City. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and many others pioneered this emerging art form. Block parties and early hip-hop clubs, like the Bronx River Community Center, became pivotal gathering places where MCs (Masters of Ceremonies) would showcase their lyrical prowess and engage in friendly verbal competitions, known as "battles."