Obviously rap is the musical art form that exists within the hip hop culture, along with scratching turntables, composing instrumentals, beat-boxing, and singing verses and choruses. But speaking on hip hop and rap as genres, I feel there is a difference.
Rap as a genre I feel is is more along the line of mainstream radio rap, which these day touches on subjects like treating women as objects, money as the ultimate form of success, ego inflation, and violence.
I feel that today hip hop as a genre is more about raising consciousness, being aware of your Earth and fellow man, or as Professor Griff from Public Enemy puts it, Hip-Hop is: High Infinite Power-Healing Our People. Public Enemy played a big role in forming what hip hop is today and created a lot of conscious lyricism.
I am interested in hearing what you have to say on the subject. Please comment if you have an opinion on this matter as I would like to get a poll on what people think about this. If it turns out that most people think that rap and hip hop AS GENRES are one in the same, maybe I should switch my genre tag to conscious lyricism. Much love my people, please keep the comments respectful. I will respect your view if you disagree. Is my view on this matter incorrect? Positive education corrects all errors. I wonder what Professor Griff would think?
I will leave you with a quote from Professor Griff giving a presentation on Feb. 19 2009, in the Otto Budig Theatre,
"Hip-hop stands for, ‘high infinite power healing our people.’ This is contrast to the rap sometimes mistaken for hip-hop. Hip-hop is the umbrella, and rap is inside it. Most rap contains misogynistic material within its lyrics while hip-hop is positive, uplifting and attempts to raise consciousness." This was the crusade of ‘Public Enemy.’
Reference: https://www.thenortherner.com/arts-and-life/2009/02/25/professor-griff-speaks-to-hip-hop-our-minds/