Hip Hop began as a background party track for a blossoming street party culture in the 70s. Even back then artists were exploited by record companies for their skills. Politically and social consciousness ruled for a short time, but the companies as always won out in the end and dictated what should be mainstream. So, now we have an ignorant, loud bunch of fools who copy each others weak gangsta act because they have nothing else to say. The real artists are still there, of course, but you have to push the curtains of crap aside first.