THE ORIGINAL RAP BATTLES HOW DISSES BECAME POETRY
Long before diss tracks, rap battles, and “yo mama” jokes, there was medieval "flyting." Defined as quick exchanges of witty insults, these poetic slights were popular in England and Scotland from the 5th to 16th century. Insulting someone in verse took immense effort and quick wits, and they were undoubtedly a performance you didn’t want to miss.
Maggoty mutton, gorged glutton, scurrilous certain heir to Hillhouse, Rank beggar, oyster-dredger, dismal debtor on the lawn, Lily-livered, soul-shivered, cheap as slivers in the millhouse, Bard baiter, thief of nature, false traitor, devil's spawn. While these amusing fights were a form of entertainment, men also used them to influence the courts and improve their social profile while lowering others. So, as you can imagine, flyting could get intense (similar to rap battles and heated diss tracks).
Despite crude language and below-the-belt potshots, flyting became entertainment for royals and was dubbed “court flyting.” While these jests are not well-documented, one flyting event made history. The iconic exchange known as “The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie” occurred in the early 16th century between William Dunbar and Walter Kennedie. The two were performing their court flyting for the Scottish King James IV.
This famous dialogue featured two firsts: using fecal matter as an insult and dropping the F-bomb. Low-brow and crass, these speedy insults were simply too entertaining for even kings and queens to ignore. If you’re wondering what exactly these two “gentlemen” were saying, we’d have to admit that it would be difficult to quote without including expletives and curses. However, one tame section can be shared here. Dunbar reportedly insulted Kennedie by saying:
Both men were known for their intellect and clever nature, and their flyting did not disappoint.
Centuries have passed, yet some things never really change!
Check Out These Local Locations! WANT TO FIND A NEW HOBBY?
They also have some gym equipment and include classes such as yoga in the membership price, discounts, and other perks.”
Build Community Try starting a book club with your friends to discuss new genres and authors over dinner, or create a “walking club” where you meet up to explore local trails and sidewalks. You could consider making
stops at Morton Avenue Dog Park part of your weekly routine if you're a dog owner. ELO Operations Manager Libby Thorngate loved to visit with her pup. “It's entirely community-run, so everyone brings toys and waste bags and works together to maintain the grounds. Since there's no membership required, it's a fun melting pot of people and their pets,” she says. “I've had some great conversations with other dog owners there, and of course, the dogs are tearing around and having a blast.” As you test out new hobbies, remember that you may not love or excel at everything you try. Don’t let that stop you! Instead, keep trying new things until one sticks.
As Melissa and Dave have proved, it’s never too late to start a new hobby! Here are a few ways to explore your interests here in Louisville if you’d like to follow in their footsteps.
group on Facebook and join them for a local meetup to play tabletop board and card games.
Strengthen Your Body If you want to try a more
Sharpen Your Mind Consider taking a creative writing workshop through the University of Louisville,
physical hobby, consider joining the Louisville Area Social Cyclists
for a bike ride (find them on Meetup.com). You could also test your bouldering or rock climbing skills at Climb NuLu. The latter is a favorite spot for ELO Legal Assistant Jessica Maza. “Their membership is definitely worth it if you plan to go more than a couple times a month,” she says. “They have a great atmosphere and community.
downloading a brain teaser app like Wordscapes or sudoku to your phone, or joining a trivia team at a local bar (find a list of trivia spots at
Do502.com/p/trivia-nights-in-Louisville ). You can also connect with the Louisville Card Board Gamers
2 | call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
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