[Ads-l] Better Antedating of "Rap" (Musical Genre)

Bill Mullins amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM
Sun Apr 12 03:52:58 UTC 2026


>   rap (OED, n2, 8.c., 1980)
>
>   1979 Commercial Appeal (Memphis) 4 Nov. 12/2 (Newspapers.com)
>
>   The black music scene infected with nauseating "rap" songs by groups like the Sugar Hill Gang.


I could see arguments for each of these being slightly earlier:

1979 NY Daily News 22 Oct 27/2

It's the first "disco rap" record (eat your heart out Sugar Hill Gang).

https://www.newspapers.com/image/396339551/


1979 Kingsport TN Times-News Weekender 26 Oct 12/1

As head of Sylvia, Inc., she made plans to record a rap record, but lost the artist who was to do the rap.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/595765179/


1979 Billboard 3 Nov 64/3 [proquest]

Meanwhile, deejay "Hollywood" is reportedly assembling a rap record.

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


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