I don't think rap is dying. i think it has expanded so much that it's become common place. if you listen to the radio and watch alot of videos you'll see that rap doesn't belong to Hip Hop heads any more. It belongs to everyone who excepts it, so anyone who can appeal the masses gets the airplay. Before when rap wasn't digested by everyone True Hip Hop fans control Raps output making rap music stay close to it's true form. Nuff said.