Prepare to be transported back in time to the origins of rap music with a rare gem from the 1940s! The Jubalaires, a Christian gospel group, played a significant role in shaping the early roots of hip-hop. Curator Claude “Paradise” Gray of The Universal Hip-Hop Museum sheds light on this fascinating piece of history.

According to Gray, the Jubalaires had a unique style that incorporated elements of rap, with their rhythmic speaking and singing resembling the cadence of later rap groups like the Sugar Hill Gang. Comprised of Orville Brooks, Ted Brooks, Caleb Ginyard, George McFadden, and later Willie Johnson, the Jubalaires were active primarily during the 1940s and 1950s, specializing in American Folk and Gospel Spirituals.

The group’s harmonization in the jubilee style of singing, along with their incorporation of rhythmic speaking in their verses, can be seen as an early form of rap, even though it wasn’t called that at the time. Their contributions to the music scene paved the way for what would eventually become the hip-hop genre.

Notable songs by the Jubalaires 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 would later gain popularity through Johnny Cash’s rendition.

Discovering the influence of gospel groups like the Jubalaires, along with other influential figures such as The Last Poets, The Watts Prophets, Moms Mabley, Pigmeat Markham, and Muhammad Ali, highlights the diverse and rich tapestry that laid the foundations of hip-hop.