Don King is known throughout the world for many accomplishments, from organizing the “The Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Thrilla in Manilla,” to promoting the careers of legendary boxers like Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
But according to King, it is he, who is the original “God father of Hip-Hop,” due to his close association with a number of musicians, including James Brown.
In a new interview with Seen Magazine, Don King claims that it was his influence over musicians like James Brown that led to the eventual creation of Hip-Hop music in the early 1970’s.
“James Brown was the “Godfather of Soul”; Don King was the “Godfather of Hip Hop,” Don King declared. “We changed the game. The game used to be cup and hold, and hold tight and don’t let go! So the thing here that you have to understand is we are like when Shakespeare and them were going round and playing on a ukulele or little banjo and they would tell the state of the union. All the rappers would tell the story of the community and the story of the ghetto, the stories and of the high profiling.”
According to Don King, he helped a number of powerful, culturally significant African-American musicians get in touch with their roots by taking them across the world, on multiple occasions.
“I took them across the world to a continent they held from their ancestry ethnically,” Don King continued. “From BB King, James Brown, Sister Sledge, all of the song- writers and producers. I took them there to Africa and then again I took them to the ‘Thrilla in Manila’.”
Don King hopes to team with veteran promoter Bob Arum to promote a highly anticipated match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – if the two boxers can agree to pre-fight drug testing rules.
King also hopes to attach a musical festival to the fight, to make it a three-day event, with the possibilities of rappers like 50 Cent and Jay-Z taking part.
“Well there is every possibility, every possibility, if we can get the stars to be a part of it and to be part of the people,” Don King said. “We represent the masses not the classes; but we unify the masses and the classes. Judge and yet ye not be judged, that is the theme. You know the only way I can know what you are thinking is by borrowing your eyeballs and walking in your shoes. So we have to be able to deal with what is real and I think the promotions a possibility and I think it’s time that we should come together. Working together works.”
