O.K., to be fair I have heard some rap songs I like, but it’s just been offhand, so I couldn’t tell you what they were. Probably by some of the artists you mentioned. Especially if the group plays instruments instead of just sampling (or has a band playing with them), I’m much more receptive.
As a deejay (the radio kind) I’d like to point out that the Music Industry just follows the trends, and that many of us hate the CRAP your F*&%ing kids make us produce/play.
See this is what I’m talking about. Up to this week, I thought Emo was the guy with the weird haircut who married Judy Tenuta. Now I see it’s probably the gathering wave of pop music. So I’ll go out, buy some CD’s, and a couple years from now, I’ll be able to impress the hell out of my nieces and nephews when I say “Jimmy Eat World? Sure I’ve heard their new CD. I’ve been listening to them for years.”