Rap music is capitalist patriarchy with beats. It discriminates indiscriminately. It is a social institution that worships power and hates its neighbor.
And it is incredibly fun to dance to.
To call it anything else, or to focus on the negative specifics of rap music and rap lyrics is a waste of energy. It is simply a by-product of our social institutions. The art of rap lays in its ability to mask as something other than a perpetuation of the attitudes of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy. (I realize that I am quoting almost verbatim the analyses of Bell Hooks. I am not trying to pass this off as my own idea but simply qualifying it via my own perspective).
To be fair, it can be incredibly demeaning to women. But it is also demeaning to men. One group is no more a victim than the other. Every body suffers or experiences some sort of oppression in our social system and everyone is put down in rap music.
I listen to a lot of rap.
But I do not believe in the system. That makes my experiences far more enjoyable.
My friend mike found an amazing flikr album with a grip of retro images. These are some of the ones that really lit my fire and gave me something to aspire to. You really can wear spandex, be styly, ride your bike and be a boss bitch. 
