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| A young Amiri Baraka |
Although very well known for his poetry, Amiri Baraka is even more well known by his style and the way he learned how to write poetry. Baraka, one of the most influential poets during the 1970s Black Arts Movement, studied a lot of poetry growing up, but what influenced him the most on his work was living everyday life in Greenwich Village, and conversing with other African Americans. On the streets, Baraka and his boys would "play the dozens," which is when two people would square off against each other and try to insult the other person more. This is where rap all began.
The word "dozens" or "playing the dozens" is said to have its origins in the time of slavery, when slaves who were deformed, too old or out of thier prime would be devalued on the auction block. It is also said to have rooted from black slaves who got engaged in verbal bashings with their owners during the time.
As the years went by, "playing the dozens" became an integral part of African American culture, and eventually made its way into the public eye. The dozens were not just a battle of lyrics, but a battle of self-control, extreme verbal ability, and a whit that somehow combines intellect with anger and mental toughness. The aspect of "battling" was really where the origins of hip hop began, when one person squared off against another. Winning the battle would most likely result in respect increase, while losing might mean humiliation. As rap started to burst onto the scene, it was for things like playing the dozens that made rap so popular. The ability to come up with insane lyrics that also insult the other opponent drew people in, and that's most likely Amiri Baraka's style and the genre of hip hop appeal to so many people.
This is from the movie "8 Mile," an example of how playing the dozens has evolved into rap and how much it appeals to people. It's got a lot of bad words, but damn is it amazing.
Sources:
historycooperative.org
Louisiana's living traditions
Baraka's Biography
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