TEMPO.CO, New York-Muhammad Ali was not a rapper, but to many of the genre's best lyricists, he was influential in paving the way for hip-hop stars to succeed and had a lasting impact on the art form.
Ali was hip-hop: He was boastful, he trash-talked, he was a strong poet and he could freestyle. He also was not afraid to tackle race relations head-on.
And rappers love saying his name, referencing his iconic career or reciting "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" in their songs, including the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," the Fugees' "Ready or Not," EPMD's "You're a Customer" and Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It."
From Jay Z to Eminem to Chuck D, some of hip-hop's strongest voices remember the late, great Ali in their own words, through statements and interviews with The Associated Press.
While Eminem remember Ali as his constant source of inspiration and a heroic figure throughout his life, "He's always been there, as a symbol for fighting against the odds, the system and the hatred. It's hard to believe he's actually not with us anymore, but he will never be gone."
Ali died last Friday at the age of 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
AP
