Without it we probably wouldn't have songs like "The Message" or rappers like KRS, Rakim, Nas etc, but the "reality raps" of people like NWA did just what many already stated. It became a gimmick to be violent and really "keeping it real" kind of turned into backpack rap and became less popular. It's cool when done right because if rap had stayed all party like disco it probably would have been the fad people thought it was and burned out. If Public Enemy were keeping it real is that really a bad thing?