siLLy puPPy So you thought the very first rap metal was possibly a 90s band like Rage Against The Machine, Body Count or Biohazard? Nope. OK. You really think it was Anthrax with “I’m The Man” or Faith No More with “Epic.” Guess again. The correct answer comes a full three years before Anthrax’s most unmetal of metal graced the airwaves of MTV. The very first example of rap metal actually came out in 1984 by a dude called THE LONE RAGER.

Just who was this masked man all badass in attitude but donning a pillow case over his head in a true fashion faux pas? It is only a rumor that it is the founder of Megaforce Records, Jon Z with his wife Marsha Zazula backed by the members of The Rods. Rumor also has it that Jon Z wanted to name his new label “Metallica Records” but as fate had it he happened to know Lars Ulrich who convinced him that it was a horrible name and then we all know where that name ended up.

This only came out as an EP titled “Metal Rap” with “METAL RAPsody” composing side A and an instrumental version titled “Special Air-Guitar Headbanging Dub” taking up side B (Really? An instrumental version of a rap song?) But to be fair the vocals are replaced by a cacophony of guitar soloing by Andy “Duck” MacDonald of The Rods. Well, what about the music you ask. My advice is don’t run out and buy this. Check it out on YouTube like i did. One listen is enough for a life time. While this poetic rocker rhymes and checks off all the mandatory metal and rap boxes of the the day, it is far from the most proficient example of how the two genres can co-exist in a less than irritating way.

Although it would be three more years before Anthrax would be the first band to popularize the metal rap concept and actually make it interesting, and Faith No More six to score a top ten hit with the style, THE LONE RAGER gets credit for being the first for opening this Pandora’s box. This is certainly one worth hearing once just to get a concept of just where the origins of rap metal began, but IMHO this is only an example of someone being the first to tackle an idea and far from anything worthy of repeated listens. It is worth a chuckle or two!