like most music, hip-hop was way better before, but there are still a few artists making good music out there.
J DILLA, Nujabes, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, MF DOOM, Common (everything except his last album, Atmosphere, CYNE, Fiv Deez.
Wu-Tang Clan, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Black Moon, Smif-n-Wessun, The Roots, Madlib, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Outkast
50 cent, soulja boy, Lil Wayne etc. is NOT Hip-Hop