When rap came out 30 years ago I thought it was just a fad

Someone earlier said that Rap took a wrong turn and I agree.  I was listening to this style of music since the term "Rap Music" was coined as a genre. For me, it goes back to 1980ish with The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Anybody who's heard their song "The Message" knows what real Rap is about. These were a group of young Black men from the South Bronx with a social and political message about growing up on the mean streets.

For close to two decades, groups with a message such as Public Enemy, NWO, Run DMC (who were more tongue in cheek), Kool Moe Dee, Salt-n-Pepa, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Tupac in the 90s and so many others produced rhythmic and lyrical music. Some were political/social statements and some were just fun.
(and I'll agree that James Brown was the king).

Then came a generation of self-indulgent, "me generation" types and I can't explain how the music and the business changed except for the greed of the "artists" and their management, and the record labels.
The "formula" I mentioned earlier was created and the mass producing of music and music videos (everyone featuring big booties and the Hip-Hop stars living the good life while still being a thug and maintaining "street-cred") flooded the market. This formula includes a "one style fits all" type of Rap/Hip-Hop with heavy Auto Tune as a major part of the track. Only a handful of today's artists have anything to say; most songs are about being a thug, tapping that ass, bragging about sexual prowess and wealth.

And as mentioned earlier, it's mostly young White men and teens who are spending the money supporting this genre. Look at how many suburban HS kids dress the part and show no respect for women.

One note on Rap and Hip-Hop artists having no musical ability, I'd have to agree when talking about today's Rap. When this criticism arose back in the day, the Beastie Boys started to appear live playing their own instruments, which caused other Rap groups to tour with live instruments.

tomcy6---I'm aware of all you said. But, Jimi went over to England as an unknown, where he was heard by Chas Chandler (bassist in The Animals), who signed him to a management deal. A British band was put together (drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding), and The Jimi Hendrix Experience started playing around England, where he immediately caused a stir. Clapton, Jeff Beck, Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison all going to see him perform. Chandler got Jimi a British record deal, and the first album was recorded and released in England and Europe, where it broke big. All that before he came back to the U.S., as an already successful British/European act. He was introduced to the U.S. market that way, as coming to the U.S. from England. Of course he was American---everyone knows that. That's not the point, the point being that he was part of the 2nd British Invasion, which brought a new style of Rock to the U.S. from England. That 2nd wave included Cream, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix himself, and others. The style of Rock they were playing was Blues based, heavy on improvisation and technical proficiency.

Raj,

At the time I was working for a licensed rock merchandising company. Everyone that worked at that company thought Rap was  a fad including the principal of the firm.

Bellbottoms...
Nehru jackets...