Why is Hip Hop today so formulaic? There was a time when “rap” artists were so unique, not only in their styles and delivery, but in their overall vibe. Just think about some favorites from the golden era of the culture. 
Artists such as Run-DMC, Whodini, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Soulsonic Force, Eric B & Rakim, and De La Soul were not interchangeable. You could never get the comic banter of Biz Markie confused with the spacey vocabulary of Ultramagnetic. Nor could you mistake Stetsasonic’s sly sounds for G Rap’s street slang. For that matter, Slick Rick and Dougie Fresh were never interchangeable. For many people today who don’t know their history, ‘80’s artists like The Fat Boys are a laugh track in time. They are thought of as gimmicky and trivial. However, even in the case of The Fat Boys, look beyond the name, and focus on lyrical content, especially of their earlier work. If you do this you’ll find that “The Fat Boys” brought more to Hip Hop’s table than just pop filler; they came with substance. The Fat Boys brought the sounds of beat boxing to the masses. They delivered classic tracks such as “Stick ‘em,” “Jailhouse Rap,” and “Can You Feel It.” What are “Hip Hop” artists today doing that is going to make them relevant in 10 or 20 years?
Even the earlier ‘90s delivered unique artists such as Gangstarr, Tribe Called Quest, Black Moon, etcetera. The mid-nineties brought Tupac and Biggie. Where are the poignant artists today? Who’s bringing it to a new level? Are 50 Cent and Kanye doing this? Or, is the entire Hip Hop sound today lackluster and non-dynamic? This isn’t a slam on these artists, just a question. Are they raising the bar? Are they doing something today that is changing the genre? Are they doing something that has never been done before? Think of other artists that are on the charts and on the radio today. Who looks different? Who truly sounds unique? 
Who have you seen in the last few years that has made you say “Wow! They’re doing something I’ve never heard before. I’ve never seen that before. That’s really creative.” Be honest. On this end, I haven’t seen this; At least not on a notable scale. Whose track today can we listen to in 20 years and think, “man, that song really made a difference. That artist is a one of a kind.”
If you answered the way I thought you did. Then make it your job to find something new out there. Spread the word. Evangelize those who are truly going to make a difference for this genre. Hip Hop is not supposed to be stagnant. Think of those early pioneers. Think of Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaatta, Kurtis Blow, and Run DMC. Was Hip Hop supposed to reach a plateau that worked for easy, lowest common denominator sales, and just stop? Or, was it supposed to continue to grow and morph into something greater. Really, Hip Hop should be the best, most original and phenomenal genre of all. Remember- it was created by poor kids in the projects who had nothing but their creativity, and they were able to invent the most spectacular new sound. When was the last time someone in this genre did this? If you’re an artist, then do this. Be the one to bring it to a new level. If this isn’t your goal, then stay out of the game. Standing still, or moving backwards is not the kind of movement the forefathers had in mind for Hip Hop.
I could not have agreed with you more! Damn what you said hit the nail on the head. On da real tho’~~ its been years since I’ve heard anything from the Hip Hop/Rap indusrty that was worth listening to. What’s out there now on the radio, MTV, media & what’s been accepted by the so-called hip hop generation, is crap. This hip hop culture, which by the way are lil’ fuckin’ kids who don’t have any appreciation for what hip hop used to rep cause they were born too late, is the generation thats keeping this crap music on the air. Everything sounds the same either because the artist has sampled something from the past (which proves my point that hip hop sounds were better back in da day), the lyrics suck because they don’t make sense & they’re repeated phrases that are so lame its not even funny (i.e. “Ay Bay Bay…”) or because the artist literally has no skill what-so-ever (i.e. T-Pain. Can anyone seriously explain him to me? How is he talented?). There aren’t any defining characteristics of the hip hop artists today.
Back in da day hip hop artists were bringing something to the table. Their music was unique & of substance (lyrically & musically) those songs taught you something, & every song had a message that hit home. You could relate to it & most importantly you could fucking understand what they were saying. I honestly think that the trend of this type of hip hop/rap will continue only for the simple fact that the majority of great hip hop artists such as 2Pac, Biggie, RBL, Run DMC, Mac Dre, Grandmaster, Rakim the list can go forever, are dead or retired. The kids today have no clue what they’ve missed out on. They’ve got nothing to compare it to. Its sad to know that so many people have lost out on the privelage of knowing what Hip Hop used to stand for. Yeah it began as a movement, it was educational an introduction to understanding new culture, it gave folks a voice….Now it just annoys the fuck outa all us old skoolers!
late
I’d have to disagree with both of you. I believe that there are plenty of unique artists out there today whose music will stand the test of time. The only problem is that most artists who are doing something different in hip-hop will never become as popular as some of the others that you have mentioned. It’s not young people’s fault either. It’s just business. Think about it. If hip-hop was edible, young people would eat the candy, bubble-gum songs. Grown folks would enjoy the meat, potatoes, and greens. The labels (majors) that have the resources to market hip-hop to the masses care more about sales than substance, and candy has always been easier to sell than steak. It’s a fact of life. All we can do as consumers (and producers) is expose our children to a healthier portion of hip-hop and what it has to offer, past and present.