Was Rap music born in Jacksonville?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The birth of hip-hop culture and Rap music is tied to New York City, but Action News Jax Ben Becker discovered the origin of rap has a link to Jacksonville. Hip Hop recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. But rap is older than you think. This is where a gospel group called, The Jubalaires comes in. According to the book, “My Name is Caleb N. Ginyard: A Father & Son Autobiography of a Spiritual Music Genius” written by the son of one of the Jubalaires founders, the group formed as the Royal Harmony Singers in Jacksonville in 1936. One report states they started as singing waiters at Jacksonville’s Seminole Hotel which was located at the southeast corner of Hogan and Forsyth Streets. “How much of what they did then have in common with what we know today [about rap music]?” Becker asked Paradise Gray, the Curator of The Hip Hop Museum located in the Bronx, New York. “I think it has everything in common with what we do today,” said Gray. By 1946, The Jubalaires recorded a song called “Noah” considered today by some as the first recorded instance of rap music. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app...