> Personally, I've always preferred the palpable melodicism of a mid-80s
movement called Dub Poetry (a distant grandparent to modern rap).

And even before dub poetry, you had Dub itself, that subset of reggae that
sprung up in the late 60s and early 1970s where dancehall DJs would toast
over instrumental tracks of contemporary reggae singles.
One of the exemplars of the species is "Undertakers Burial" which came out
on Trojan Records around 68-69, I think. You can also find tons of toasting
on English Beat singles. That was pretty much the whole reason Ranking Roger
was in the band.

John.