I have heard the question "Is hip hop dead?" many times, and to be honest I believe the answer is no. Though it has changed a lot in the passing years doesn't classify it as a "dead" art, all things must evolve and this is one of them. We have gone from the basic beats that the D.J.'s spin that evolved into words being said over the track, then there were the classic emcees and battles of the 80's which evolved into "gangsta" rap, which i believe is misread as the "real" hip hop and the reason that people think its dying when the fact of the matter is its just changing with the times. Just as with anything else, too much of the same thing will get old and tired, so it changes.
The truth is the industry has become so much more than that, it has become a diverse melting pot of all different types where there are no limits and there are no restrictions of the music you make which is such a beautiful thing that shouldn't be overlooked. Its honestly sad that it is being frowned upon as much as it is there is an endless field of creativity laid out in front of artists today and plenty of room for experimentation that needs to be explored, because the next "big thing" is just around the corner waiting to be exposed to the public.
Let me ask a you a very fair question, say every artist sounded exactly the same would it matter what album you bought? would you have you favorite artist? would there be a need for the music industry? well......no and that is precisely my point. Eventually everyone is bound to repeat themselves and if it is all the same style and type of music eventually it will die and that's exactly why we need that type of growth and change that everyone seems to be so afraid of today when in all reality its the perfect opportunity for new artists and old artists alike to thrive in the business of music. The creative mind which makes us all individuals is the message hip hop is there to instill in the first place, so who are we to stifle this development with slander and insults to to the ones taking the chances to make these changes possible by being the odd one out that "freaks" everyone out with their unique sound instead of congratulating and honoring their risk.