There has been intense criticism of the genre by politicians and citizens alike. Despite the genre's growing popularity, criticism has only become more intense. While I do like some of Eminem's music, I don't necessarily like him as a person. Many times, people cast a critical eye on the rap artists themselves, which is understandable. But those who listen to rap music in no way endorse the lifestyles of these artists, or even the sometimes violent lyrics of the songs.
Rap music is just entertainment, the same as any other type of music.
People who have a problem with rap music are not being forced to listen to it. I'm not here to preach rap music to the masses, but there is a thing in this country called freedom of speech. 95 percent of which he or she has probably never listened to. Another thing I find disturbing is how nobody ever seems to take the time to understand why rap artists feel the way they do. Outsiders have a much easier time criticizing something they don't understand.