Apparently they were rhyming and rapping in colonial days as a way of entertainment arguing/dissing. What did they call it, flyting or kiting or something? It may have went back earlier than that. If hip hop is "poetry" they really just mimic'd poetry and put a beat behind it. Anywho I still like Gangstarr songs like moment of truth and other early rap that isn't outroght jewed - Ill take the nigger badge, sure.