Block Quote by Wyclef Jean

Slaves are generally expected to sing as well as to work.

— Frederick Douglass

“I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as…

— Frederick Douglass

If a slave were to raise his voice to his master, he risked all manner of punishment. Yet what was possible in many circumstances…

— Henry Rollins

Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by…

— Frederick Douglass

Slaves were expected to sing as well as to work. A silent slave was not liked, either by masters or overseers.

— Frederick Douglass

In the South of long ago whenever a new man appeared for work in any of the laborers gangs, he would be asked if…

— William Christopher Handy

Everybody would grab a guitar and listen to somebody else and call themselves a folk singer. When they didn't know no more songs, they'd…

— Brownie McGhee

I always thought I was singing American folk music.

— Lonnie Donegan

“They really thought what other people sing in songs.”

— Boris Pasternak

Rhymes with reasons…lyrical state of mind

— Mike

They had all this talent, and they had no instruments. So they started rap music. They rhymed on their own. They made their own…

— Max Roach

I knew I had a sharper mind than most others and I had a sense of rhyme. One didn't even need to sing melodies.…

— Raftaar