Okay Rap Music is like any genre of music. Just because what's out there in the mainstream is mediocre, does not mean that all of Rap Music is that way.
2pac was a good musician, because his music had meaning to it. It's WHAT he said that gave him the status of Rap Legend.
Everyone from System of a Down to Weezer have shown a respect for REAL Rap Music. You can check out SOAD with Wu-Tang Clan or River Cuomo's Alone album if you don't believe me.
Although Rap is very much so influenced by Rock in many cases, Rap has also influenced many Rock Bands from Linkin Park to Papa Roach and the Beastie Boys.
I'd be lying if I said there weren't Disney songs that I very much liked as well. When it comes to Rap though, the mainstream music you're listening to now with Solja Boy or whoever else is out there right now is not Rap.
Some Artists that still have decent songs are The Game, but most of the real rap left is underground from the political revolutionary styles of Immortal Technique to handlebars from Flobots.
It's cool if you don't like Rap Music, but to say it's garbage is to not know what it is. It's the same as how Anime is labeled for children when adults see shows like Battle B'Damon, Beyblade, Pokemon and decide to classify the whole genre by what's seen on TV alone.
I'm not even that much of a Rap Music fan, I listen to all types of music. I just felt like someone needed to defend it lol
As for the Artist I would bring back..... I would bring back Kurt Cobain for a Nirvana show. That would be awesome