Why Rap Music Matters

So, rap music is not as good now as it was even a decade ago. Currently, the market is loaded with bloated product and sub par talent and production. But, it still matters. For almost 25 years raps has mattered more than rock music. Critics are always looking for reasons why. People look at the production, the changing face of the United States, and the rise of music videos. All of these are valid arguments, but I have one big reason that no one mentions. Rap uses popular culture to link there songs to current life.
Rock music is usually in a vacuum. There are about three topics rock talks about. Rock talks about ladies/romance, rocking, and partying. They never talk about what happens in day to day life. They obviously never watch TV, read books, see movies, or exist with the rest of the world. Rappers bring up everything. They use metaphors and descriptions that usually employ pop culture. It brings the song to real life. It becomes relateable to the rest of the public.
Right now, rap is getting out of control. A lot of it is junk. In the way that rock had to be destroyed by arena rock and new wave to slowly come back with roots rock like The White Stripes, Wilco, Kings of Leon, and My Morning Jacket. Rock is coming back very slowly. But, it's still a long way off. Until things balance out, rap will continue to dominate.