In an apparent case of racial abuse, a 22-year-old white man was assaulted by a black teenager because he was listening to rap music.

Joshuah Lamb, 14, allegedly punched David McKnight in Palm Bay, Florida, because he did not think white people should listen to that type of music, the Herald Sun reported.

McKnight was strolling down the sidewalk listening to a song 'Wasted' by Gucci Mane on a stereo, when the African-American teenager said: 'You shouldn't be listening to rap music because you're white',' Palm Bay police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez said.

'The victim said he can listen to whatever type of music he wanted to and then the fist fight was on.'

McKnight said Lamb was with seven friends at the time.

'I was like, 'Just drop it, let's go, there is eight of you and one of me. Just drop it.' And he says, 'I'm not dropping anything.' Bam! Punched me,' he said.

'I couldn't get away fast enough. Then one of them spit on me, punched me, knocked me down, got a couple of kicks in from a couple of them,' he said. 'I feel it's a racial thing really.'

McKnight suffered a broken toe, concussion, a swollen eye and strangulation marks around his neck.

Lamb was later arrested on battery charges and held at a juvenile detention centre.