Music diggers have landed what may be the first rap song in history. You'll be surprised.

Rap has undergone a significant transformation since the 1970s and 1980s, and today it has truly entered the mainstream. And where did it all begin? Internet users have discovered an archival recording that may be the first recorded rap in history. What's more, its protagonist is... the biblical Noah.

For many people listening to rap today, the origins of the genre may be something like fantasy stories taking place "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away."

The history of hip-hop is full of myths and legends, but DJ Kool Herc is considered the pioneer of this culture, presenting the revolutionary breakbeat technique during a famous party in August 1973. This involves looping rhythmic, instrumental fragments of well-known records, to which one could dance and, later, also… rhyme.

DJ Kool Herc is considered a pioneer of hip-hop. License: Dima Junglist / Unsplash

The first rap song? The most common examples are "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" by the funk group Fatback Band and "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang . But examples of rapping, or rhythmic melodeclamation, were already known from jazz and blues songs.

Music diggers have uncovered a fragment that may be the first example of rapping in history. Warning: it won't be gangster-y, but rather... religious.

We're moving to the 1930s. It was then that a gospel quartet called The Jubalaires was active in Houston . The group consisted of Orville Brooks , Ted Brooks, Caleb Ginyard , George McFadden , and later Willie Johnson .

Cover of The Jubalaires' album Presenting The Jubalaires License: Press Materials / The Jubalaires

The band was one of the first gospel groups to appear on television! They also had several hits, such as "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," "The Preacher and the Bear," and "God Almighty's Gonna Cut You," later popularized by Johnny Cash .

The Jubalaires were known for their vocal harmonies, which had a profound influence on many bands. All indications are that they may have also inspired future rappers. This includes the song "Noah," which featured a segment based on a melodic recitation of Noah and his Ark .

Does that mean we're talking about rap? Of course not. Yet hip-hop music has drawn from a wide range of influences since its inception, so it's very possible that The Jubalaires were among them.

And what about the first Polish rap? The answer is simple: Franek Kimono , Kazik , and… Małe Wu-Wu . This is no joke: the first Polish scratch song appeared on an album by Wojtek Waglewski's group featuring music for children !