Rap should be skill...as with any other job. But nowadays, it's as if there's an opening-position to where ANYONE who can rhyme two words together can become a teacher. Everybody knows somebody who raps and a lot of it is ignorant. You're not skilled. You have nothing to offer. Just rants and raves about sex, drugs, money, and hoes. This is the very reason Rap will never be taken seriously as Rock, Jazz, Soul/R&B. People like Lupe, The Roots, Mos Def, etc...they're much needed to keep some kind of substance in the music amidst the popular mindless stuff. And yes, Waka Flocka and Gucci are NOT under-appreciated. They're much bigger and sell a ton more than the 'backpackers' so your claim is invalid.
I think both kinds of rap are needed. As much as the Top 40 junk annoys me at times, it is also an important part of Hip-Hop.
