Actually back in my "bangin' days" 
there was a clear distinction between Rap and Hip-Hop. Hip-hop being the dance, commercial stuff and "rap" being the more serious tone of Eric B and Rakim, BDP, Public Enemy, NWO, etc... I can remember when it was an insult for a rapper to be considered hip-hop (Fresh Prince, Young MC, etc...) .....then about 75% of them completely sold out and decided EVERY f'n song should have a chick singing the damn chorus and it hasn't recovered since.
When people say Hip Hop, it basically means the culture--from rap, B-boying, the dress, the talk, the graffiti "artists"...which now has been commericalized...you have people claiming to be hard, are studio rappers now, and it's okay...before, it was laughed at and clowned...
When Em's first single and album came out, it was basically dissing his mom's, who his woman is just like, and chances are his daughter will grow up to be like---it's a damn sin in "urban" culture to talk about your own mom, regardless of your personal issues---that shit was private. But, he made millions and a name off of that.
Many people don't like rap, the music due to where it came from, and the fact it still is associated with the inner cities...
What I don't like is that rap music, has maintained this image of Promotig doing illegal activities that harm the black community and keep them "pacified"---drug dealing and gang banging for example, while the artists and labels make MILLIONS, and then these same artists act hard and like they are still hood, when in fact they are living better than their former neighborhoods altogether...it's the great farce of hip hop---promote and sell a image---and get people hooked on it, and make money off of it.
Soulja Boy it has been said is the future of Hip Hop, if that is so, then he has stuck a knife in it and killed it.
