I suppose people listen to rap for different reasons. I'm always curious when people make comments like the one Ristol made. Or worse yet, when they say they "outgrew" rap. It always makes me think, "What about rap did you even like in the first place?"
If you started liking rap because of the beats, the melodies, the cadences, the unapologetic expression, how does that just go away when you turn a certain age?
If you listened to rap because you thought it was cool how rappers cuss and your Christian mother didn't want you cussing in the house and nobody liked you in middle school and you were angry so you started listening to Tupac, then I fucking feel sorry for you.
I liked it for the beats. I was definitely not a rebellious type. My parents didn't care what I listened to and my mom would drive me to the store to buy a CD (back when I used to buy them) and never made a fuss.
This was in about 2003. Music from that era was different from music in the 90s, which I also listened to, and is also vastly different from today's music. Some people don't like change. I know I no longer get excited to go to RGF and look at the album section to see if anything new has come out. Because at this point, if it isn't by AOTP, JMT, or anyone affiliated with them, I don't get excited and usually just listen to singles on YouTube to decide whether it's any good. If it's rappers I liked back in 03, like 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, etc., they too have changed drastically. Mobb Deep of today doesn't sound like the Mobb Deep of 96. I'm not expecting it to. Ok, I am, but I know it's a bit unreasonable. But "outgrowing" rap, for me, is the change in style of beats, lyrics, etc. in hip hop today that I can't see myself getting acclimated to in the future.
I certainly don't think I'm above hip hop, that it's something that young, ignorant people listen to. It's just different now. And anyone would be lying if they said they absolutely love change, even outside of music.