After spitting an epic 10-minute freestyle for Funk Flex on Hot 97, The Roots frontman Black Thought has garnered what many consider is long overdue recognition. But despite being lauded for his lyrical ability, it seems as though Black Thought is looking for recognition for something else entirely. According to the Philly MC during an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, he believes he started the polarizing hip-hop sub-genre of mumble rap.
“Lots of people are saying that I shut down mumble rap in one 10-minute setting. But that wasn't my intention because mumble rap – if we go back – that's something I invented,” Thought asserted. “I invented rapping without actually using the words. With songs like Don't Say Nuthin', freestyles like New Year's At Jay Dee's, I essentially invented mumble rap, where you go for many bars without saying any words. And when I did it, it came from a place of being inspired by scatting.”
From Black Thought's logic, the genealogy of mumble rap finds its roots in the scatting tradition of jazz. The Roots being a hip-hop, jazz fusion band seems to connect with Black Thought's iteration of scatting in the tracks he outlined. But do you see the current form of mumble rap being an extension of this history Black Thought brings up? Let us know your take in the comments below.
Source: rollingstone.com
