no, i dont listen to RAP, i listen to HIPHOP, say it wiht me, HIP-HOP. when i refer to rap, i refer to the stuff that is played on the radio as rap, and yes i do listen to it. i listen to it, say... when going to the club, goin out with friends, just trying to get pumped up while working, i dont listen to their lyrical content, just their flow ( with the exception of DMX) and beats. i listen to HIP-HOP when i want to be mentally stimulated, or i feel like being inspired. DMX *MIGHT* have been a "real" artist at one point in time, but the fact that he conformed to the FAD, and i repeat, FAD of talking about material posessions, ie "ice, benz, platinum, etc..." makes him just a regular rapper, and not a true artist IMO. maybe DMX doesnt talk about money as much as the others, but he raps with incoherent sentences, which does not take too much talent to do. now as far as jay z goes, what he raps about is a fad. ill give him props in saying that he is creative.
how can you compare DMX to the likes of The Guru? you cant, so dont even try, and also, please dont use the term "hating", it is highly overused. be original
edit, forgot to ask you, 3 years ago, if i asked you who is DMX, what would you tell me? that is all, as for jay z, your right, he has been on the scene for a while.