Yo AJ, you getting into rap sounds a lot like me, same time frame, rappin/beatboxin with your friends, everything. Some of my first tapes were Raising Hell, Bigger & Deffer, Big & Beautiful and JJ+FP's DJ..Rapper. I liked R&B in the early 90's (BBD, Boyz II Men, etc.) with hints of hip-hop but still focused on good singing and being more upbeat.
My musical range goes from Metallica to rap, from british rock (Radiohead, etc.) to wild experimental stuff. I get in moods to listen to different music, and weather and time of day factors into the decisions.