‘I Am The Tree of Rap; Current Rappers Are Branches’ – Gyedu Ambolley
Legendary highlife musician, Gyedu Blay Ambolley says he is the founder of rap music in the world.
History has it that hiplife artiste Reggie Rockstone introduced rap music in Ghana.
Ambolley, however, accepts that he didn’t start rap music in Ghana. But he contends that he started rap in the world and even has documents to support his claim.
Speaking to Joy FM’s Lexis Bill, he stated categorically that when it comes to rap, he remains the tree while current rappers like Sarkodie, M.anifest, Guru, et al. are just branches of him.
“Talk about rap, I am that I am; I am the tree. The rest are all branches…” he said boldly.
He argued that, Guinness Book of World Records got it wrong as far as who the originator of rap is concerned by inking American Hip-Hop group, Sugar Hill Gang as the originators of rap music.
“My first recorded rap music in the world was released in 1973 but Sugar Hill Gang released theirs around 1978/79. So, my work was the first rap music as far music is concerned worldwide. Therefore, Guinness Book of Records should correct that citation error”, Ambolley boldly said.
He added that rap music is African and not American. “It began here in Africa. When our chiefs are sitting in state, there is a linguist that rains appellations on the chiefs and these are all rap”.
