Yeah, generally speaking. Up until then, even the hardcore Hip-Hop, gansta rap, and commercial rap at least wazn't so bad. But since then, the majority of it just hasn't been any good. People seriously have lowered their standards as 2 what is good music. Also, the true skool emcees usually only have small followings these days. The people are pick up Shock-G's new album, Talib Kweli's new album, and De La's new album, The Roots new album, aren't the same people picking up Nelly's and G-Unit's albums. So the celebrity and big success lifestyle isn't really open 2 them. G-Unit, D12, Disturbing The Peace fans are typically young kids who have never been exposed 2 good music or real Hip-Hop. It seems like cookie-cutter, talent-lacking puppets like G-Unit are made 4 the charts and making money....not 2 creativity or the state of Hip-Hop at all. Artists like J-Live, Mos Def, and so on are keeping things fresh, creative, and new...yet they aren't even trying 2 hit the Top 10 with their records cuz they aren't gonna sell out 4 all that. After 2Pac and Biggie passed, mainstream and commerical Hip-Hop and Rap just got awful.