Never really appreciated hip hop in its entirety until the radio began playing music that I didn’t personally care for. It was then that I realized that just like when my parents were younger hip hop is changing, yet I don't necessarily like the change. We are living in a time where sucky lyrics over a hot beat or a song bout partying will sell over the song that's about social change. I never really appreciated the great pioneers until these new era lil wayne fans began calling him the GREATEST RAPPER ALIVE, when there are legends like jay z nas eminen dre and so on still alive. Its not my job to change any ones opinion but what is it that you are really basing your opinion on? Lil wayne fans say that lil wayne is the greatest, and thats fine because he is truly talented. However, how many of these lil wayne fans knew the lil wayne before the young money era? Before hot boys? How many of them know that baby and manny fresh were writing most of his earlier songs or that he had other ghost writers. Not that many. So how are you a fan? I am laughed at because I am a die hard Bow Wow fan and according to a lot of people he is not a hip hop artist. However, how many rappers to date have been in the game for 15 years and are still in their primes? How many rappers have successfully made the transition from a child star to an adult star? From rapper to actor? From rapper to entrepreneur. All I'm saying is before you sleep on Shad Gregory Moss, respect his hustle and his ambition as an artist. I love hip hop when it was used to tell the world how the inner city kids were feeling. When hip hop was used as a platform to bringing communities together. I miss hip hop when it was more educational than it was provocative. I remember when hip hop artists did not have to sell their souls to the industries to become famous or for their music to be heard. But we get artist like wiz nicki and wale who have been underground and are basically forced to change who they are to become mainstream. I remember when I did not have to go to mixtape websites to hear a good cd. I miss those days. But I also thank today's hip hop for helping me to appreciate the hip hop that I grew to love the sub conscious writers like mos def tribe called quest and common. To great legends like tupac biggie and nas. Thank you mainstream America for helping me show my love to the beautiful hip hop! This is why I think I am a writer!