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

"Old audiophiles crack me up" 

Laugh all you want about us old audiophiles. But remember one Important thing. Without us old audiophiles there would be no high-end audio Industry. Most of the serious audio websites are made up of older people that have been doing this for years. When you go to audiophile shows it is mostly older guys with gray hair. The magazines on Audio cater to an older crowd. 

I'm sure when us baby boomers are dead and buried there will be no high-end audio Industry anymore. But it won't really matter to you since rap and hip hop don't require a high end system anyway. 

Taters-You must have been picked on by a rapper in the past.  I don't know why you are so negative about it. Then again, I don't really care.  I wasn't laughing at you guys.  I was laughing at the negative comments that you guys make about a subject you don't know much about.  I can care less if anyone likes what I like.  I will keep enjoying my crappy music on my high end system.

"I will keep enjoying my crappy music on my high-end system"

That sounds like an oxymoron to me.

There's very real cultural/racial bias in this thread.
1. Rap is not music.
2. Creators of rap are somehow not as good as regular humans (whatever that means).

I take the position that there are many things I don't understand and/or don't like but to each his own.
So for those that like rap, great ain't none of my business. I'm not the arbiter and will not bad mouth it whether I like it or not.

Fortunately it's not up to me to dictate what others should or shouldn't like or for me to define what music or art is, beyond a personal reference, and I don't spend time worrying about it.

I have thought about the definition of music and art throughout my life but have never achieved any meaningful definitions. It's like painting yourself into a corner, just when you seem to work toward some conclusion something new crops up that requires rethinking. And that's how it should be because that's what it's all about.

There are those who like only music from the 40's or 60's etc. Well it's a continuous process that doesn't stop and you can't make it stop so get over it.

To me in life, as well as in art and music, it's best to keep an open mind. So let's enjoy what we enjoy and leave other folks alone.

Thank you RJA for clearly identifying and naming the elephant in this room.

For the OP who cannot let it go, I think your question, although it is essentially one of a rhetorical nature, has been answered, numerous times.

And, finally, once again:  If you don't like rap don't listen to it.  

Let It Go.