I worked in the 1960s with a woman in Sierra Leone W Africa who was doing a PhD on native 'raps' where young men would challenge and throw down a verse to see if the other could 'cut' them. they useually insulted your mother etc just like they do with 'mofo' and 'your momma' today.. They got fast and intricate and often went on along time til the loser fell out. A dance equivalent would be a step dance challenge ( like they lifted for Riverdance between Blacks and the Irish )

She said this was continued in West Indies, Britain and the States and it has the elements and spirit of rap to me.

Do we have any challenge and response like this in the Western tradition?