Final answer:
Toasting in hip-hop refers to reciting spoken words rhythmically, which is a fundamental aspect of the genre. It involves rhyming and flowing over a beat, offering a form of expression that often addresses social issues and personal experiences within the inner city.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hip-Hop music was often based on toasting, which refers to c) Reciting spoken words rhythmically over a beat. This style is characterized by rhyming lyrics and a flow that predated the emergence of hip-hop culture. It originated in Jamaica and was a precursor to rapping, involving DJs talking over the music to hype up the crowd. As hip-hop evolved, toasting became an integral part of the genre, with artists like the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron delivering intense and honest commentary on inner-city life. The art of toasting, along with brash lyrics and beats, helped to solidify hip-hop's unique identity within the music scene. Public Enemy's Chuck D demonstrated the influence and power of the medium with politically charged songs like "Fight the Power," which encouraged listeners to confront social issues like racism head-on.