How come rap was so good in the 1980's but now is total rubbish?

How come rap and r&b is listened to by chavs, morons and d~ckheads nowadays but back in the 1980's it was cool and original. Little children listen to it on buses loud on their mobiles but the music is soooo sh~t that it makes me cringe in embarassment and just laugh at rap fans now.
What happened?

It was owned and released by people who understood the culture and appreciated the music for it's value in the 80's. Now, everything is a formula, everything is a commercialized gimmick to sell to wht suburban teenagers who think they know but really have no idea. Also, when there's a formula, that kills all orginiality and all artistry which negates the entire point of hip-hop. Somewhere along the way people forgot that, as an artform, rap is really poetry/spoken word over a beat. It's not about the production or the hook, it's the about the experience that is being shared in the song.

It became too commercial.

Rap and other music in general is shitt now... they exhausted the good talent... I prefer music from the 90s or 80s and I was born in the 80s

HUH???? What?????? Rap was NEVER good! It has ALWAYS been nothing but a bunch of noise and people speaking so badly that absolutely no one really can understand them. no talent!

i totally agree.
i liked rap back in the 80's..Will Smith's era. : D now its total trash. they use women as a sex icon in their videos, they're not as light spirited as they were in the 80's(the rappers) What happened to Hammer time?!
:(

Listen to Eminem - that isnt rubbish - raps about his life and you almost develop a relationship with him when you understand the lyrics. But there are some idiots that is ruining the rappin industry.

People continue to buy the music, thats why. If you ask me rap IS the same as it's ever been. Theres more of a variety now than back in the 1980's. Whats being played now, party music well guess what the same thing was being played in the 80's (dont believe me look it up). Rap was based off party music so if hip hop is dead now thats like saying it never was alive. I'll tell you what's dead disco music lol. If you dont like whats being played on the radio support the artist you do like. I hear a lot of people complaining but when albums drop the same ones complaining are no where to be found.

chavs are taking over the world :( i don't like all modern stuff now its sick nd very repetive the 80s and 90s were amazing but then the age of chavs happened :(

I agree with you, I am 41 and the 80s was my time, my daughter says its my age and I am past it! Sugarhill gang roole ok!

yes mate-your wisdom is a shining light against the dire state that is hip hop theses days
although it can still be found if you know where to look
common /talib /mos def /pharoe for example

btw it reminds me of the old common song 'i used to love her'
genuine insight ahead of its time

Maybe it was rubbish then and everyone has realised that now!

Because it's all about guns, violence and money which makes it ultimately empty at it's core. Not to mention the last very, very successful rapper was a white guy. Where else could it go from there but down?

Rap music makes me sad. 99.9% of it anyway. It is affecting too many young minds in America. We're having less and less Will Smith's and Oprahs because of this. It's cool now, to have ''bling bling'', money and big rims.....not morals and respect for people. Anyone can rap about guns, drugs and females but not anyone can rap about morals and respect. That, right there takes REAL talent. That kind of music is unhealthy for the people making it, their children and the other people listening to it. And what's sad is that most of them don't even know it. I cringe too when I'm on the bus trying to read and some kid behind me is blasting his rap music too loud on his ipod. Its beyond annoying but I feel nothing but bad for them. They just don't see the light yet and I've been in their shoes before.

Great question!

we grew up. I used to think fashion was pretty cool in the 80's but now that it's come back around the second time I think it's terrible and can't believe I ever wore that stuff.

It could`nt be that your approx 25 years older could it ?

I've been asking myself the same question for years. In the 80s they had a story to tell, nowadays all they do is glamorize thuggin, boozin, flossin and whorin. So sad.

2pac isnt alive.

I don't know .. That's true the rap in the 1980's was great .. I think there are some good rappers out now like Common, Kanye West & Lupe Fiasco because they're original.

You say hip-hop was only good in the 80's, but I think it was brilliant, and even better in the 90's. I agree that it's gone downhill a bit now but there are still good artists and songs out there. The corporate eliment has taken over in the mainstream designed to be aimed at the little kids you hear playing it on the back of the bus who only ever watch The Hits, listen to Galaxy radio etc.

Progress,surely it shows the popularity and sustainabilty of the music.I dont really notice much difference to it now than then it`s still topical.