Was the first rapper from North Carolina?

As the story goes, hip-hop music was born a little over 50 years ago at a house party in the Bronx. But that version of history doesn't account for an entertainer from Durham, North Carolina with the incredible name Pigmeat Markham. In 1968, Markham released a hit song called “Here Comes the Judge.” The tune fused comedy, funk, and what can only be described as an early form of rapping—years before hip-hop officially burst onto the scene. So was this largely forgotten figure actually the first rapper?Featuring:Mark Anthony Neal, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of African & African American Studies at Duke University Links:Check out a playlist of the songs mentioned in this episode and some others inspired by Pigmeat Markham here.Cover image: The album cover art for Pigmeat Markham's 1968 single "Here Comes the Judge”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.