I already knew most of this. Hip Hop is just as important as every other genre was before. Like Metal, both have turbulent histories and a wide pan of media, critics, and misinformed individuals who perceive music as something more closed.
Fun fact, in I believe in 1989, the Emmys had their first category awards for Hip Hop. The winner selected was DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Now this became an issue for several reasons. The awards ceremony for Hip Hop was not televised deaming the genre "not important enough" for television. Because of this, both Jeff and Will Smith led a protest to the event. There were also several more qualifies rappers at that time that deserve the award more for their influence. (Early N.W.A, Run DMC, Public Enemy).
No disrespect towards those successful in that field, but there are various other faces of hip hop that tell different tales and flavors of Hip Hop. (The Roots, Spose, Die Antwoord, A.F.R.O., Tyler The Creator, Schaffer The Darklord) Hip Hop has been demoted because it's perceived as Gangster Rap. Realistically, what Hip Hop was before wasn't always so hard. Look past what you see and learn to really explore a genre before writing off an entire genre of music.
Also fuck Björk and her Swan Dress.