Was run dmc the first black rappers?

Run-D.M.C. was not the first black rappers, but they were among the pioneers who helped bring hip-hop into mainstream music in the 1980s. The genre had earlier artists like DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa, who laid the groundwork for rap. Run-D.M.C.'s innovative style and crossover hits, such as "Walk This Way," played a significant role in popularizing rap music.