Koran. The Koran is the holy book of
the Muslims, as the followers of Islam
are called. Muslims observe Ramadan
by praying, reading the Koran, and
fasting.
The North Carolina state Capitol is in
Raleigh. It was built between 1833 and
1840.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Ramadan 25
Muslims fast by refusing to eat or drink
anything during daylight hours. Small
children, very old people, and people
with illnesses are excused. After sunset,
Muslims break their fast with prayer
and festive nighttime meals. The end of
the monthlong fast is celebrated as a
festival.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the
Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar
is based on the moon, Ramadan
may occur in any season of the year. The
27th night of Ramadan is celebrated as
the Night of Power, or Lailat al Kadr.
On that night, it is said, God revealed
the Koran. Ramadan officially ends
when religious officials first see the new
moon.
#More to explore
Islam
Rap
The musical form called rap is basically
rhythmic, rhyming speech. Rap is the
most important part of a way of life
called hip-hop culture. Many people call
the music that rappers use hip-hop
music.
Rap songs often tell stories about rappers
and their backgrounds. Some rappers
speak about racism and its effects
on African Americans. Most rappers
have been men. Some women, such as
Queen Latifah, have become successful
rap artists as well.
Rap began in the early 1970s in African
American neighborhoods in New York
City. The first rapper was probably a
Jamaican deejay named Kool Herc.
(Deejays play recordings at dance clubs.)
Kool Herc used two turntables, or
record players, to create sound for parties
in the Bronx section of New York.
As the music played he would “rap,” or
talk, to the audience.
In time other deejays developed the
rhyming musical speech that became
rap. Early rappers included Afrika Bambaataa
and Grandmaster Flash. In 1979
the Sugarhill Gang’s song “Rapper’s
Delight” became the first hit rap song.
Boys in Pakistan help to prepare meals that
Muslims will eat after sunset during
Ramadan.
Rap artists perform for a crowd at an
awards show.
26 Rap BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
During the 1980s rap mixed with other
forms of popular music, including rock
and soul. Some popular rappers during
this time were LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C.,
the Beastie Boys, and De La Soul. Public
Enemy performed rap songs with strong
political messages.
In the 1990s a form of rap known as
gangsta rap became popular. Gangsta
rap songs by N.W.A., Ice-T, and other
performers described the drug use,
gangs, and violence found in inner cities.
Other rappers continued to mix rap
with other forms of music—for
example, the Fugees used reggae, and
OutKast used funk.
#More to explore
Hip-Hop • Popular Music
Raptors
#see Bird of Prey.
Raspberry
Raspberries are delicate, juicy fruits.
They are eaten fresh. They are also
canned, processed for jams, put into
pastries, or frozen. Raspberries are a
source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and
iron.
Raspberries grow in the United States
and Europe. They thrive in places where
summer is not very hot and winter is
not very cold.
Raspberries are usually red, purple, or
black. They grow on prickly bushes
called brambles. The bushes produce
small flowers that develop into the
berries.
Botanists (people who study plants) do
not consider raspberries to be true berries.
True berries, such as cranberries and
blueberries, are single fruits that develop
from a single flower. But a raspberry is
actually a cluster of small fruits that
develop from a single flower. The small
fruits are attached to a firm core. When
a raspberry is picked, the core stays on
the plant. This is why a picked raspberry
is hollow inside.
Raspberries are similar to blackberries.
But when a blackberry is picked, the
core stays inside the fruit. Another difference
is that raspberries are hairy but
blackberries are smooth.
#More to explore
Blueberry • Cranberry • Fruit
Each raspberry is actually a
cluster of tiny fruits.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Raspberry 27
Rat
Rats belong to the group of mammals
called rodents. They live throughout the
world, either in the wild or around
people. They usually stay out of sight by
squeezing into tight hiding spaces.
Rats look like mice but are usually
larger. A rat is usually about 7 to 10
inches (18 to 25 centimeters) long, not
including the tail. The fur can be gray,
white, black, or brown. Rats have sharp
teeth. They use their teeth to defend
themselves against birds, snakes, and
other enemies.
Rats are most active at night. Rats in the
wild eat leaves, branches, seeds, and
roots. Some eat small animals. Rats living
near people will eat almost anything
that people eat. They also gnaw on all
kinds of objects other than food, such as
walls and telephone cables.
Rats can reproduce quickly. Females that
are only a few months old can have
babies. A rat can have as many as 150
babies every year.
Many people think rats are pests.With
their big appetite, rats can destroy crops
and stored grain. Rats also can spread
diseases, such as the plague. But rats can
be useful, too. Medical researchers use
