Hip Hop is DEAD!!!

The definition I gave of hip hop was extrapolated from http://dictionary.reference.com...; I used this source because it is reliable and it is a necessity to agree on a definition if we are to establish a common basis. I would not define hip hip strictly to the definition that was cited, but since you are saying hip hop is dead, you should give your definition of hip hop, which you have not done thus far. "Rap videos today only display cars, diamonds and big booty models"- You must remember that a majority of all hip hop songs include this type of lyrical content. Songs from The Notorious B.I.G's "Big Booty Hoes", to Nas featuring Dr. Dres' "Nas Is Coming", where he articulates several lines about his car. If one googlies any single rapper, they can find a multitude of photos where that rapper is wearing a chain or "diamonds". Music videos were no where near as prominent as they are now before the 2000's, and rappers were not as paid the inordinate amount they are today, but the ones who earned enough to afford such things, did not hesitate to buy such things, take The Notorious B.I.G for example, who bought several cars and mass amounts of jewellery. Though, to say rap videos only display the things that you just listed is an over exaggeration. Take a look at Eminem's' "Stan" or Tyler the Creators' "French"; these are rap videos and have no sign of flashy cars, diamonds, and "big booty models". As I stated above, lyrical talent and the "rhyme scheme" is subjective. The lyrics you cited from The Notorious B.I.G's' "Long Kiss Goodnight" discusses guns, drugs, and harming someone. Since you stated these lines are an example of lyrical talent, lets look at Earl Sweatshirts' "Earl" lyrics, this resembles similar lyrical content, and this is rather recent, therefore, is that lyrical talent? We cannot affirm anything, because lyrical talent is subjective and therefore not a reliable aspect to base an argument off of. "How to own a $500,000 car and still feel the need to sell coke."- I'm not exactly what you mean by this, or even whom you are referring to. A great majority or rappers, even before the 2000's", consumed illegal drugs and even sold them; or what about Tupac shooting a cop or sexually assaulting a woman in his hotel room? Or DMX who sold cocaine in the late eights and throughout the ninety's? Why is it the even rappers from an older era made a large sum of money and still felt the need to commit crimes? So even rappers of the older class are not exceptional role models by any means. But your statement does not have much to do with purely lyrical talent and value which you strictly wished to discuss. " If you have the power to reach a large audience with your music, then why not teach something valuable? Jay-Z believed this and today he is a living legend."- To teach one something valuable they must be in accordance to the set of values being proposed. Rappers such as Eminem, Tyler the Creator, and say, Kanye West - they are discussing issues such as the problems in society, government, and corruption; I would say that these problems are of some value. However, I feel the meaning of value, especially relating to hip hop, is subjective. Lyrics of the song you cited by French Montana could be more meaningful or of more value to someone than any of the other songs you cited, but it is subjective.To base a conception on a precarious set of assumptions or subjectivity is not reliable to prove a point. "As for the abundance of people you mentioned wanting to rap, well that's typical and expected. Because Rap is such an easy field to break into, every little two-bit hustler from the streets suddenly wants to do it and sees it as an easy way out."- The point I was making when I said more people are rapping than ever before is, that hip hop is more mainstream modern day, that is, reaching a larger audience, thus, more people would have to respect hip hop if they wanted to start rapping. One does not have to know the history of something to respect it in present form. More importantly, if hip hop is dead, than there wouldn't be any hip hop artists today. As I stated in round one, there are more award winning HIP HOP artists than ever before, thus, creating a wider appreciation among society and these modern day artist are seen to have talent, which is precisely what you wished to discuss. "Finally, as for the companies paying out mass amounts of money to rappers that have so-called "Talent", trust me it has nothing to do with talent. The general public has changed throughout the past decade or so. Now they are obsessed and entertained by complete Bullsh%t." It certainly has to do with talent; companies pay hip hop artist whom attract the most attention and will be popular, and they are popular for a reason. They attract fans whom admire their talent. This also has to do with subjectivity again. Since musical talent is subjective, along with lyrical value, fans are attracted to certain hip hop artists' who they simply like because they find them to be good artists. The general public certainly has changed throughout the past decade, and this has led to hip hop attracting a larger audience and more mainstream success, as well as different genres of hip hop. To say that society is obsessed and entertained by complete BS, that is by no means an objective observation that you can back up with facts. What is BS to you may be phenomenal talent to someone else. Lastly, the topic being discussed is "Is Hip Hop Dead?" You listed above how Jay-Z is a living legend, you also stated that artists such as The Wu Tang Clan and Nas; and they are symbols of hip hop as you stated. Since they are alive and symbols of hip hop, and hip hop artists, and if they are living symbols who preform the music, how can hip hop be dead when you stated they are living symbols of hip hop, and they are every much alive? Hip hop is alive and well. Hip hop is intertwined in the mainstream and has, and is, attracting a larger audience than ever before. Hip hop music videos on YouTube are generating millions of views. Since lyrical talent and value are subjective we have to dismiss this fallacy, because to argue subjectivity would led us nowhere. With the success of hip hop from the beginning into modern day, it is inspiring more people to become rappers; these people who chose to start rapping have to have some respect for the art they are preforming, or else they wouldn't do it by choice. My friend here, that is, my opponent, has even given three example of living examples of hip hop, thus, if living figures are alive, and they are original figures that represent the music in modern day, in turn, hip hop is not dead, but alive and well, and progressing.