Words By Jesse H.

Dear Black Community,

I would like to formally apologize on behalf of the White race. You see, apparently stealing Jazz, Rock and Roll and countless styles from the Black community wasn’t enough. Now we’re officially after Hip-Hop.

Professor Ferenc Szasz of the University of New Mexico has proposed a theory suggesting that rap battles originated in Scotland, by way of an art called “flyting.” Flyting is apparently some old method of trading insults used in Scottish pubs by old ass poets who wanted to bring to attention how much of a beef-witted apple john their enemies were.

Now, to be fair, I don’t know for sure what color skin Ferenc Szasz has, but I also don’t know any Black people named Ferenc (furthermore, I don’t know any Black people who want to credit Whites with the creation of Hip-Hop). But, regardless of the similarity between “flyting” and a rap battle, I think it’s a rather classless move on the professor’s part to be claiming Hip-Hop as a Scottish invention based on one similarity. Not only does it discount the breadth of the eclectic elements that make up the Hip Hop culture, but its just an all-around douchebag move from an undoubtedly attention starved professor, who saw 8 Mile and subsequently thought he understood Hip Hop.

Ferenc, if you’re reading this, let’s have it out: you vs. me in an epic throwdown of wits and academic knowledge of Hip-Hop. We’ll call it “the flyte of the century.” I’m representing the Bronx, you can have Scotland. To make it easier for you, we’ll use the 8 Mile model, since that’s likely the only example of Hip-Hop you know. Three rounds. We’ll flip a coin to see who goes first. Place? Why TSS of course, unless you want to fly my broke ass out to New Mexico so I can embarrass you in front of your students.

Rap Music Originated In Medieval Scottish Pubs, Claims American Professor [Telegraph UK]