A new book on the verbal prowess of Muhammad Ali, titled Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali the First Heavyweight Champion of Rap, contains nearly 300 pages of quotes from the boxer, compiled by editor, George Lois.
Lois said he has always wanted to condense Ali's many sayings and memorable utterances into a "small, fat book — like a Bible or a Quran."
Presented chronologically, Ali Rap takes the reader from the boxer’s Kentucky childhood, through his historic fights against Sonny Liston, Joe Lewis and George Foreman — and finally to his current struggles with Parkinson's disease.
Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy recently hosted an Ali Rap special on ESPN, which also included Rakim, Ludacris, Doug E. Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Jermaine Dupri and MC Lyte.
"He was able to engage his social surroundings into his whole persona. That's what hip-hop was able to do — to be an antenna for social reflection," Chuck told AP. "He's one of the few black people to get on TV in the '60s and speak their minds — thank God — and also back up what he talked about."
Lois said he has always wanted to condense Ali's many sayings and memorable utterances into a "small, fat book — like a Bible or a Quran."
Presented chronologically, Ali Rap takes the reader from the boxer’s Kentucky childhood, through his historic fights against Sonny Liston, Joe Lewis and George Foreman — and finally to his current struggles with Parkinson's disease.
Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy recently hosted an Ali Rap special on ESPN, which also included Rakim, Ludacris, Doug E. Fresh, Fab 5 Freddy, Jermaine Dupri and MC Lyte.
"He was able to engage his social surroundings into his whole persona. That's what hip-hop was able to do — to be an antenna for social reflection," Chuck told AP. "He's one of the few black people to get on TV in the '60s and speak their minds — thank God — and also back up what he talked about."