When did rap first appear?

Rap as a musical form began to emerge in the 1970s, primarily within African American and Latino communities in the Bronx, New York City. It evolved from earlier forms of African American music, including spoken Word and rhythm and blues. The genre gained mainstream popularity in the late 1970s with tracks like "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, which helped to introduce rap to a wider audience.