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I found these folders (think pee chees) among a pile of school supplies. They reference "rap" in sort of a hippie look (and... is that John Wayne??), dated 1970. Presumably wrap is referring to folder, and rap is describing the type/style/design of the folder. Today, to me, rap is a type of music, but this link suggests rap (the music format) started in 1973. So what did rap mean in 1970?

front back inside with copyright date

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  • Looking at another similar folder online leads me to believe (given its placement on the linked folder) that this is the name of the style of the folder, and it may not have any real meaning besides being catchy.
    – Laurel ♦
    Sep 21, 2018 at 5:55
  • Do you have a link??
    – Lambie
    Sep 4 at 14:13

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As a white, suburban, American, the most common usage of rap (aside from the literal meaning) in the 1970's was

Slang. to talk or discuss, especially freely, openly, or volubly; chat.

(source)

I guess they expect you to use the folder to keep notes about things you've been discussing?

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    It was used as a noun as well; a 'rap' could be a conversation or, often tediously, a monologue which was inspired in some way, e.g. by drugs, or political/religious conviction. Could be non-count - 'good rap flowed during the gathering'.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 21, 2018 at 8:24
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1970s teenager here - "rap" meant talk, chat, etc., particularly about important or deep subjects. My "trying to be hip" high school counselor offered "rap sessions" to the students to discuss their problems.

I think that the folder was probably meant mostly as a pun/wordplay.

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    Sep 4 at 3:54
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It was just in the ‘60s that the original meaning “talk,chat” became popular and in the following decade the term was used to refer to a style of music.

Rap:

talk informally, chat," 1929, popularized c. 1965 in African-American vernacular, possibly first in Caribbean English and from British slang meaning "say, utter" (1879). Meaning "to perform rap music" is recorded by 1979

(Etymonline)

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