Before Hip-Hop: 10 Proto-Rappers
By Jim AllenLong before even the likes of Kool Herc and Kurtis Blow hit the scene, before anything resembling hip-hop as we know it today even existed, forward-thinking artists in the worlds of rock, jazz, reggae, and R&B were exploring different ways to use their voices to propel a poetic flow when conventional singing just wouldn't cut it.
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 Gil Scott-HeronJazz Poet, Soul Troubadour Spoken-word performances with groove-conscious jazz and R&B |
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 The Last PoetsSpoken-Word Performance Group |
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 George "Bongo Joe" ColemanMusician |
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 BlowflyMusician |
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 U-RoyReggae Musician |
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 Prince Far IReggae DJ and Producer |
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 Jack KerouacIconic Beat Writer |
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 Ian Dury and the BlockheadsSex, Drugs, Rock and Roll |
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 Ken NordineWord Jazz Pioneer |
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 Bob DylanFolkie, Rock Legend, Singer-Songwriter, Troubadour |
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