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university of pennsylvania
music
Rap Is Scottish; America Is Confused
According to Ferenc Szasz, a professor of American and Scottish culture at the University of New Mexico, rap music, that hallmark of modern American culture, actually comes from medieval Scotland. Because in addition to kilts, golf, and throwing logs, the Scottish are also well known for spitting those phat rhymes.
More specifically, Szasz's argument is that rap battles are derived from "flyting," in which two people insult each other via vulgar, satirical rhymes. This practice was so popular, poets would perform in front of kings, such as the Flyting Of Dunbar and Kennedy, performed in front of King James IV in the 16th century.
Centuries later, flyting crossed the Atlantic when Scottish slave owners traveled to America and passed the practice onto their African-American slaves. According to Szasz, the American version of flyting first appeared as a war poem published in Vanity Fair in 1861.
Watch the clip below of Eminem battling in 8 Mile (NSFW because of the language) and then compare it to the text of Dunbar and Kennedy (supposedly also NSFW if you can actually understand it). The two should be similar in terms of the use of obscenities and clever word play as well as the competitive nature of the activities, in which only one performer is judged to be the winner.
And do not be surprised when in retaliation, New York City claims that Sean Connery is from the Bronx.
8 Mile:
More specifically, Szasz's argument is that rap battles are derived from "flyting," in which two people insult each other via vulgar, satirical rhymes. This practice was so popular, poets would perform in front of kings, such as the Flyting Of Dunbar and Kennedy, performed in front of King James IV in the 16th century.
Centuries later, flyting crossed the Atlantic when Scottish slave owners traveled to America and passed the practice onto their African-American slaves. According to Szasz, the American version of flyting first appeared as a war poem published in Vanity Fair in 1861.
Watch the clip below of Eminem battling in 8 Mile (NSFW because of the language) and then compare it to the text of Dunbar and Kennedy (supposedly also NSFW if you can actually understand it). The two should be similar in terms of the use of obscenities and clever word play as well as the competitive nature of the activities, in which only one performer is judged to be the winner.
And do not be surprised when in retaliation, New York City claims that Sean Connery is from the Bronx.
8 Mile:
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Panapada
8:40AM 8:40AM Dec 31st 2008
The first popular modern Rap Song, with clean lyrics even, came from the classic 1957 musical, "The Music Man" and the song "Rock Island" with words and music by Meredith Willson. Don't believe me, look up the lyrics. In the movie, the song took place on a moving train and the "Rap" was between the traveling salesmen riding the train.
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MARK
9:40PM 9:40PM Dec 31st 2008
Hip Hop as the world knows it came from the south bronx PERIOD.
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Robert
1:27AM 1:27AM Jan 4th 2009
Try looking up the 1956 Cadets recording of "Stranded in the Jungle" that utilized spoken word in rhythm with vocalizations and music. Some consider it to be a precursor of rap as the elements were there.
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Lanette
1:38AM 1:38AM Jan 1st 2009
I always said it won't be long before others say that African Americans are not the originators of rap...and it will be said that corn braids come from the British...
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Syco Timmy
2:01PM 2:01PM Jan 1st 2009
Yeah, and then we'll hear that ancient Scottish people dyed their skin brown too.
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Bob
12:58AM 12:58AM Jan 4th 2009
It wasn't brown, they dyed their hides blue. Actually "woad" was the name of the color.
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Bob
1:05AM 1:05AM Jan 4th 2009
Nope, they dyed their hides blue. The color was called "woad". They were also head hunters, or least they took heads as trophies.
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Campbell
6:14PM 6:14PM Jan 1st 2009
As a Scot I am perfectly willing to give the credit for todays rap music to the blacks. I think we should be giving them all wedges whenever we see the opportunity:)BTW blacks are not called African Scottish
In the Highlands
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sea
8:06PM 8:06PM Jan 1st 2009
Total bs rap was originated in the bronx,ny. African-Americans created the hip-hop culture. As an African American I don't listen to alot of rap but lets give credit when and where it's due we appreciate that you admire it so much you want to make it your own, but that's not right. What a lie your going to have to show me more proof before I ever believe that lie.
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Panapada
5:58PM 5:58PM Jan 2nd 2009
The Bronx is what NYC has always been, a melting pot. Rap started in Panama and move out to the Islands, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic and then carried to the Bronx where it got melted in with some west African music. Kentucky may have given rise to the popularity of horse racing, but to say it started there would be a lie.
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mfb
9:52PM 9:52PM Jan 1st 2009
Why do the subtitles look German?
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Joana
9:54PM 9:54PM Jan 1st 2009
Rap is to music what grafitti is to art.
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Henry C. Hannah
10:37PM 10:37PM Jan 1st 2009
As fellow Scot I totally agree Mr. Campbell. Keep rap out of Scottish heritage and let African/Americans claim it. I also agree, there are no African/Scots claiming birth rite to rap. To those who like it have at it, but as for me I like music I can understand and that carries a positive message.
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Allie
5:17AM 5:17AM Jan 2nd 2009
I don't know why ANYONE would want to take the blame for that c"rap"!
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susan
12:31PM 12:31PM Jan 2nd 2009
Rap has been around longer than most think..In the song "Ball of Confusion" by The Temptations in the late 60's early 70's, don't they specifically say "Rap On Brother, Rap On." or am I singing this song wrong for decades??
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Dorothy Ellen Whitsell
6:34PM 6:34PM Jan 2nd 2009
Has anyone translated that 16th century Scots dialect into actual English? Shakepeare and Spanish are both easier to decipher than that for the average American.
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jackio
9:38AM 9:38AM Jan 3rd 2009
oh yeah right, slave owners actually teaching their slaves "flyting." This is where we know that this whole article is some real BS. Apparently, ol' Ferenc doesn't know anything about American slavery. Rap has its roots in toasting in Jamaica and was brought from the island to the South Bronx. Ask Kool Herc.
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Angelnette Buckner
2:46PM 2:46PM Jan 3rd 2009
Europeans try to take credit for everything possible no matter who actually invented it!!! Is tea really British? Are French fries really french? Let me guess the pressing comb was actually German?
Not saying that all mainstream rap is positive, but the media lets you hear what they want you to hear. Don't be brainwashed into thinking all rap is negative because there is so many talented artists who speak positive messages and their music never gets a chance to hit the airwaves. Not only that but when rap was started (even today sometime) many rappers were speaking in parody and unless you know the slang you wouldn't understand what they are talking about.
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DOGGfan
12:18AM 12:18AM Jan 4th 2009
Maybe Snoop is Scottish?
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Robert
1:08AM 1:08AM Jan 4th 2009
Nope, they dyed their hides blue. The color was called "woad".
They were also head hunters, or least they took heads as trophies.
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