Music Trends: Rap Industry Takes A Hard Look At Itself

21% Sales Decline Spurs Self-Examination

After 30 years of growing popularity, Rap music has finally hit its tipping point. Though music sales are down overall, Rap sales have declined 21 percent from 2005 to 2006, and for the first time in 12 years, no Hip-Hop album was among the top 10 sellers of the year. Many have forecasted the death of Hip-Hop over the years, but it appears that the umpteenth drug-dealing anthem, chest-pounding boast, gun-play recount or soft-core, booty-bouncing music video, has, finally, gotten stale.


http://www.futuremusic.com/news/april2007/musictrends-hiphop.html