Cutting contest

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Cutting contests were a form of musical battles between the various stride pianoplayers of Harlem in the early 1920s. The players would cut into the play of the other player and as such try to show who was the better performer. In this they have much in common with the later emerging rap battles.

The contests were usually held at parties in the homes of locals of Harlem. The entrance money was used to pay off the rent. These parties where therefore also known as "rent parties".

Famous contestants include James P. Johnson and his greatest rival Willie "The Lion" Smith. They actually had so much respect for each other that their contests usually ended in a draw and both almost never 'cut' into the other's play.