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Rudy Ray Moore, The "Godfather of Rap" in The Legend of Dolemite
Rudy Ray Moore, The "Godfather of Rap" in The Legend of Dolemite

Rudy Ray Moore, The "Godfather of Rap" in The Legend of Dolemite

Narrator Rudy Ray Moore
Visual image Rudy Ray Moore
Interviewee Beastie Boys
Interviewee Ice-T
Interviewee Eazy E
Date1994
Mediumink; paper (fiber product)
DimensionsOverall (HWD): 25 3/8 × 11 in. (64.453 × 27.94 cm)
Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection
Object number1998.802.30
Text Entries

The Legend of Dolemite is a documentary of the Blaxploitation legend, Rudy Ray Moore who details his career as the original "Godfather of Rap.”

Rudy Ray Moore (Rudolph Frank Moore, b. 1927-2008) is a comedian, singer, actor, and film producer. He is most known for his blaxploitation films, live street poetry and his raunchy stand-up comedy. Rudy Ray Moore was a film star, known for transforming the film industry with his 1975 blaxploitation film, Dolemite which was about a kung-fu fighting pimp. His comedy acts were influenced by mainstream comedians such as Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, as well as by Black cultural traditions such as playing the dozens. Because of his street poetry, musical performances and status as the “Godfather of Rap” and  "King of Part Records" he is viewed as a major Hip-Hop influence by many rap artists.

Image of man wearing black shirt and matching hat with gold diamond shapes. Title of movie and actors are printed in red ink.
CopyrightThis work is issued under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License. For more information, go to https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
On View
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Oral History Interview with Vinnie Ray at the Ego Trip Offices, New York, NY, July 16, 2001
Oral History Interview with Vinnie Ray at the Ego Trip Offices, New York, NY, July 16, 2001
Vinnie Ray
Date: 2001
Object number: 2001.343.7
Unity Rap / Unity Rap With Bonus Beats
Unity Rap / Unity Rap With Bonus Beats
DJ Magic Ray and The Undefeated Three
Date: 1982
Medium: polyvinyl chloride; paper (fiber product); ink
Object number: 2001.235.7.A,.B
Large format image
The Swinging Dave Lewis & His Band, at Oil Can Harry's, Vancouver, BC, Canada, October 3-15, c. 1966
Ray Charles
Date: October 3-15, c. 1966
Medium: cardboard; ink; stickers
Object number: 1994.233.2
Large format image
Rockin' Chair Blues / Here Am I
Ray Charles
Date: 1949
Medium: shellac; paper (fiber product)
Object number: 1994.24.1
Large format image
I Love You, I Love You (I Will Never Let You Go) / Confession Blues
Ray Charles
Date: 1949
Medium: shellac
Object number: 1994.24.2
Albatross Productions Presents The New York Dolls, Ze Whiz Kidz, and Ze Fabulous Pickle Sisters at the Moore Theater, Seattle, WA, March 14, 1974
Albatross Productions Presents The New York Dolls, Ze Whiz Kidz, and Ze Fabulous Pickle Sisters at the Moore Theater, Seattle, WA, March 14, 1974
Albatross Productions
Date: March 14, 1974
Medium: paper (fiber product); ink
Object number: 1999.509.1
Ice-T, Ray Mac, Jah Dub, The Glove, at The Radio, Los Angeles, CA, May 13, 1983
Ice-T, Ray Mac, Jah Dub, The Glove, at The Radio, Los Angeles, CA, May 13, 1983
Ice-T
Date: 1983
Medium: ink; paper (fiber product)
Object number: 1998.790.21
The Glove, Ice-T, Ray Mac, at Radio, Los Angeles, CA, November 18, 1983
The Glove, Ice-T, Ray Mac, at Radio, Los Angeles, CA, November 18, 1983
Ice-T
Date: 1983
Medium: ink; paper (fiber product)
Object number: 1998.790.31
Capas Design Godfather Hat Formerly Owned by The Notorious B.I.G.
Capas Design Godfather Hat Formerly Owned by The Notorious B.I.G.
Notorious B.I.G.
Date: 1994-1996
Medium: wool
Object number: 1999.327.6
Bundy Trumpet known as "Annaloria I," Played by Johnny "Dizzy" Moore
Bundy Trumpet known as "Annaloria I," Played by Johnny "Dizzy" Moore
H. & A. Selmer, Inc.
Date: c. 1958
Object number: 1999.466.1.1
Oral History Interview with Robert Ford and J.B. Moore at the Ego Trip Offices, New York, NY, July 16, 2001
Oral History Interview with Robert Ford and J.B. Moore at the Ego Trip Offices, New York, NY, July 16, 2001
Robert Ford
Date: 2001
Object number: 2001.343.8
Money Moses, Tootskee Rap Session, Every Friday Night from 11 pm - 2 am, The Juice 88.7 FM, West Haven, CT
Money Moses, Tootskee Rap Session, Every Friday Night from 11 pm - 2 am, The Juice 88.7 FM, West Haven, CT
Date: c. 1980
Medium: ink; paper (fiber product)
Object number: 1999.733.21
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