“Rap, Rhyme and Rhythm: Rapsody in Hip-Hop, Rhythm and Rhyme,” is a wide range of poetry dealing with historical, romance, politics, social, cultural, gender, protest and other topics.  The book begins with the ancient Nubian style of poetry used in the praising of kings and queens as well as the character and praise poems, a style once accompanied by stringed instruments and drums and still repeated on “talking drums” in West Africa to this very day.  A large number of romance poetry is included.  The rap and hip-hop style is found in its most glorious forms from poems about fatherhood to family unity.  Both conscious, topical rap and hip-hop poetry as well as enjoyable, colorful and intellectual fun verses are included making this fascinating book one that can be enjoyed by everyone from students to married couples and singles.

Paul Alfred Barton is one of the first among a group of Hip-hop history, culture and poetry writers who specialize in the area of Hip-hop writing.  From the late seventies to the present (2000’s), Mr. Barton has written a number of articles dealing with issues relevant to the hip-hop generation dealing with African history, music, festivals, family issues, African-American and American history and culture as well as poetry.  Paul Alfred Barton has written books such as “Susu and Susunomics” (Iuniverse, Inc.), “Susu Economics,” and “A History of the African-Olmecs,” (1stbooks Library) and “A History of Racism and Terrorism, Rebellion & Overcoming” (Xlibris.com)

WE’RE HAVING A BABY

I

Wedding bells they have rang,
and lover’s songs they have been sang,
flowers so vivid in so many colors,
the honeymoon is far from over,
our hearts and souls have grown a bit closer,
not too long ago we decided, got married,
and up to now, our eyes are still starry,
we waited and to us was  not long,
for this is the day  in our love song,
about the fruit of love that’s within,
we’re married in love and there is no sin
and as I see you and you see me,
the fruit of love is inside the tree.

CHORUS

we’re having a baby,
six to seven children maybe,
who said we’re too young to be one,
better marry and unite now while we can,
we’ll still get a good education,
graduate from college get a profession,
who said we’re too young to have babies,
at seventeen we can defend our ladies.

II

We’re having a baby,
we shall plan for seven or more, maybe,
don’t tell us we’re too young, we’re twenty-one,
the perfect time to start having family fun,
let the world know our love’s fruit grows,
nothing is better than keeping the seed we’ve sown,
we will have it good, oh yes we can,
working together united as one,
some may like being apart but its not cool,
a man and woman in love and a baby is the rule.

III

RHAPSODY IN RHYME

Let the rhythm flow on through,
let the thoughts know what to do,
time your lyrics let them flow,
give them tempo let them go,
lilting, filtering, words like quilting,
blending in melodies straight like stilting.

Hear the rhythm play on drum,
drum and base from hand to thumb,
let the drums speak to the dancers,
lets hear the cyphers wake the trancers,
flowing, knowing, that you are good,
giving to the people much more word food.

Chorus

Rhapsody in hip-hop rhyme,
lets play and flow and right on time,
the talking drums and base they dance,
the lyrics take all from the trance,
rap and hip-hop straight to all,
positive messages, just heed the call,
soothing the mind so we can grow,
improve our lives so let us flow.

Fill the air with sounds and words,
cherish all they good that’s heard,
let the mind decide what’s good,
bring positivity to the neighborhood,
when they attack use the best raps,
spread the message know the haps,
bring the rhapsody in rhyme and rhythm,
good communication in a time of isms.