My friend Hashim and I disagree often, but I have to side with him and Omar on the Rap vs. Hip-Hop issue.. I can understand the sentiment behind it, but any construct based on "the hip-hop I don't like isn't really hip-hop" just doesn't add up, any more than saying "Condi Rice isn't really Black" or "Republicans aren't really human beings."
The reality is that what you and I might consider vapid commercial rap is a big part of hip-hop culture in 2005, just as Republicans are a big part of American culture.. and we need to be real about that, that they are a part of us, if we hope to address their influence constructively.
(to whatever extent hip-hop can be considered a culture, which is always open for debate)
