1940s Rap / The Jubalaires / Noah / Gospel Rap /

1940's Black Gospel & Pop Vocal Quartet...This pancocojams post showcases The Jubalaire's 1940s Gospel "Rap" entitled "Noah".The Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx, NY features displays, memorabilia, art, and exhibits that thoughtfully and educationally piece together the rich history of Hip-Hop. In a recent interview with the museum’s curator, Claude “Paradise” Gray, he admitted that rap music’s roots can be traced back to a gospel group in the 1940s named the Jubalaires.

The story, found on City Lab, cites the Jubalaires, along with, The Last Poets, The Watts Prophets, Moms Mabley, Pigmeat Markham, and Muhammad Ali as just a few of the biggest influences on the creation of hip-hop.

When referencing the Jubalaires, Gray says, “They were a Christian gospel group that sang and rapped with almost the same cadence as the Sugar Hill Gang.”

Upon further investigation of this group, the Jubalaires consisted of Orville Brooks, Ted Brooks, Caleb Ginyard, George McFadden, and later on Willie Johnson. They were all active primarily through the 1940s and 50s and sang American Folk and Gospel Spirituals.

The four-piece would harmonize together in what was known as the jubilee style of singing, and would often incorporate rhythmic speaking or singing in their verses (rap). Obviously, back then it was not called rapping, but their style certainly can be credited as one of the earliest consistent forms of it in music.

Some of the Jubalaires most well-known songs include “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” “Noah,” “The Preacher and the Bear,” and “God Almighty’s Gonna Cut You Down/Go Down Moses,” which was later popularized by the late Johnny Cash.