There's a documentary replaying on ESPN(2) that plumbs the age-old question: was Muhammad Ali the first rapper? There's no doubt the man formerly known as Cassius Clay was hip-hop before there was hip-hop; he excelled in bragadocio, questioned the government, and hooked up with the Nation of Islam. Not to mention rhyming on occasion, of course.

The documentary is narrated by Chuck D., a boon for those of us who miss his third day into a cold baritone. Chuck Klosterman goes all meta with an article about the documentary, succumbing to obnoxious footnote disease, but at least points out an interesting link between Chuck's rhyme style and Marv Albert. You may have already known, but some of us needed a late pass.