Rap has, like every other form of music has gone two ways. Firstly, it's become subsumed into the general social culture of most if not all Western {and beyond} nations so it's acceptable to turn up in adverts, kids' shows, the pop charts, church meetings, street entertainment, TV dramas, films etc. To many who are not particularly into it, it's become like the hard shoulder on a motorway ~ something you notice without ever paying attention to. There if you need it.
On the other hand, some people are still threatened by it. But they were always threatened and were threatened by lots of things, going back many years.
Then you have the diehards and those for whom rap/hip~hop is the holy grail and still the beacon to shine. Alot of them are underground, some still make creatively stimulating stuff. They're like anyone else, they have their period that they love and follow the artists of their time and by their stuff. Some are honest enough to admit that the genre lacks potency but it's still their music and they'll stick with it. Just like Rolling Stones fans.
Personally, I've long liked rap conceptually and I've written raps but it's not stuff I'm particularly into. Interestingly, I first heard heavy and psychedelic rock the same year I first heard rap ~ 1979. The heavy stuff opened up avenues that influenced and changed my entire musical headspace. Rap did not. Liked the songs though.
