The Signifying Monkey

In The Signifying Monkey, author Henry Louis Gates  set out to identify how the 'black tradition' had theorized about itself". Gates' theory is derived from reading the actual text of African American literature.  Gates believed that The Signifying Monkey is a cunning character whose manipulation, through language, allows him to trick an elephant and a monkey into doing whatever her wants them to do. Gates argues that the black vernacular tradition celebrates the use of figurative language verses literal interpretations, that is why there is this connection between the story and te African American culture.
"Signifying" is described in several different ways. It includes a variety of abstract practices such as lying and indirect speech. Gates also explains playing "The Dozens" which is a game of exchanging insults, much similar to rap battles where one rapper goes against a fellow. 

Having gone to public school where of the 2000 students, majority of them were African American, I was able to see rap battles take place constantly. Whether be in the cafeteria, in the hallways or in the classrooms themselves, students would play "The Dozens" against each other very often. Whether it be over a the rhythm which their voices create or over a rhythm made from a pencil or their own hand,  mixing the clever lyrics into music was their goal.