Many critics thought that Hip-Hop would fade away quickly, much like the Disco craze of the 1970's. Hip-Hop has only grown larger, and is now an undeniable cultural and musical force. Its roots are strictly urban, as people like Grandmaster Flash and Kurtis Blow mixed rhythmic poetry with a ghetto beat. Hip-Hop remained a mainly urban black taste, until a transformation began to occur in the late 1980s.
You can read about all this in the hip-hop timeline and you'll find out that Hip-Hop (or Rap) began to cross over in to pop culture, as some rappers found themselves chart toppers. Rap has definitely changed, for the better. The lyrics began to focus more on Hip-Hop culture, and the music has become much more sophisticated.

Hip Hop its now a way of life and is the defining music of the 1990s. No other music form is riddled with the deep-rooted angst or the captivation of American youth culture. Hip-Hop needs to be accepted as the musical voice of the 1990s, as well as very enjoyable listening.