Rap music history has roots which formed centuries ago in Africa, as tribal members performed chants and dances to drum beats. The evolution of the genre took off in the 1970′s when DJ’s and rappers began chanting along to rhythmic beats. It was in 1979 when rap music history truly turned a corner as this is when the Sugar Hill Gang released the song ‘Rapper’s Delight’. The instant success of the hit brought rap to the masses, and caused many to try and replicate the melodic chants, rhyming lyrics and dance beats; all which meld together to form rap.

Rap music history continued to flourish, first in urban areas and then expanding to even the most remote suburbs throughout the United States. Some of the original rappers from the 1980′s included Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, Eric B and Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. The music continued to grow in popularity, as too did the way in which messages were portrayed. In the 1990′s rap began to diverge, with a distinct line drawn between gangster rap and more moderate rap. The raps created by the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff were considered mild in comparison to that of Tupac and Wu Tang Clan.