Why does everyone say Hip Hop is dead?
 

When it seems to be diversifying and getting more interesting from a whole general level comparable to the rock boom from the 60's to throughout the 90's.

Is that true?

Maybe things continue to develop in the underground scene. For a surety virtually nothing's happened in 10 years in the mainstream.

Well, 'cept for the few odd releases that people rave about like KW's Dark Twisted Fantasy thingee.

Most likely because it's the same generic crap that tends to get the most airtime. Hip-hop is obviously more diverse than ever, it just takes some effort to find something worth listening to.

Mainstream artists hold heat and include poor production to get accepted by the masses.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I see it. Actually, if you asked me, it's just waiting for some Kurt Cobain type figure to break some underground movement out and start the next big thing.. and be artistically credible for a few years until they whore that style out too.

I think that Lupe Fiasco is the closest thing out there that would fit the bill.

Hell. No.
Kurt Cobain always had control of his music, Lupe hasn't been that fortunate.

Lupe Fiasco's lyrical content has meaning and warrant's praise. Who would you consider to be the savior of hip-hop? I agree that he doesn't have as much control over his music as is needed, but what mainstream artist does?

It doesn't need saving, just like Kurt Cobain didn't save rock. 80's glam metal was going to kill itself.

Kurt did have a movement so to speak, but Lupe sure hasn't.

If they're was one artist who would appear to be the most influential right I'd say it would have to be Odd Future or Lil B and self-promoted artists who say the word swag a lot.

I think they're too many artists and too much choice for ther to be rock "heroes" these days.

I'm on the fence about this issue since it does kind of seem to me that a lot of hip-hop in the past few years has been kind of samey. If anyone has any recommendations of something new and different I'd certainly love to hear it though.