I've said it before and I'll say it again.

the 2000s were the WORST time for major label hip-hop.

there were a good number of classics, mostly by artists who debuted in the decade prior

but as the decade turn there was hope.... and then SHIT.

the hip-hop bubble burst because they marginalized the shit out of it, and fuckhead tastemakers were celebrating the most ignorant, unwashed bullshit because it wasn't boom-bap.

I don't give a fuck about how many wack ass "club bangers" from tah time Bummer Dogg puts up, that shit was TRASH

hearing albums like Joey, Kendrick, Lupe,
J-Cole et al after the debacle of the '00s is like watching someone dump a bucket of piss on the head of the attractive but annoying as fuck girl at the peak of her obnoxiousness (think, a Fox News anchor)

last few years have rekindled my interest and are holding it.

the vets coming with heat, the next generation coming with heat
people are self-censoring less and expressing more
more honest albums are coming out. artists are more or less doing WTF they want and taking risks.

the '90s will never be back but I'm good with this kind of music if it can be sustained