It seems like, today, we assume that all rap music is centered on sexual thinking, getting rich, and degrading women. While this is true to a certain degree, I feel that it is important to note that rap was not always this way, and even now, not all of it is.

Back in the 1990s, artists inspired their audience to go out and fix political issues. Rap was used to tell a story.

After reaching its peak in this decade, rap music has evolved over the years, integrating itself into every aspect of our pop culture. Even though its style has significantly evolved, times have not necessarily. Many of the political issues prevalent during the '90s still remain today, making 90s rap all that more respectable even in 2016.

What made rap during the '90s so memorable was, without a doubt, the artists. Specifically, Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. lead the rap revolution during this time by discussing everything from drug addiction, to socioeconomic divides, to racism.

Arguably, the most socially conscious artists during this time period, Tupac’s raps centered heavily on issues concerning social justice, police brutality, and poverty, all political issues relevant and debated today.

When he started out, Tupac approached these issues with what seemed like very aggressive and in-your-face lyrics. As his music evolved, Tupac adopted more of a feel good vibe, still addressing similar political issues, but not so aggressively. Some of these songs include “Keep Ya Head Up,” an anthem aimed at encouraging respect towards women; “Changes,” aimed at pushing for equality; and “All Eyez on Me,” discussing the popular attention he was getting from police during this time.

Today, these songs seem to be more applicable than ever, seeing as how we are becoming more socially aware and adopting philosophies that encourage body positivity for women, fight police brutality, and discourage any form of racism.

Much like Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G. quickly became one of the most influential rappers during this time period. Biggie Smalls took more of a personal approach in his rap, addressing his struggles with drug addiction and dealing, suicidal thoughts, and his rise from the ever-present gang culture during his childhood, in songs such as “Sky’s The Limit,” “Ten Crack Commandments,” and “Everyday Struggle.”

Even in 2016, we are still fighting for mental health awareness, drug control, and bridging the ever-present socioeconomic gap within our society.

Even though Tupac and Biggie essentially ruled this rap music era, artists like Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube still made notable contributions to the improvement of our, even today, socially unaware society. Each of these rappers spent some amount of time touching on issues that root from growing up in a gang centered environment, being surrounded by crime, and being dealt the racist card of society.

Once again, although not apparent at first, each of these artists managed to highlight issues that are present even today.

So, why does it matter? Why does it matter that songs written in the '90s are still applicable in 2016, over 20 years later? What does that mean for rap music, what does that mean for our society, and what should we do about it?

Any music that is remembered over 20 years after its release is a feat within itself. Having this music remain applicable, however, so long after it’s release, is every artist’s unspoken goal. This applicability questions the validity of deeming our society today as entirely progressive, seeing as how we are dealing with the same issues over 20 years later. Sure, we have made improvements in our social awareness, but we have a while to go before we can call ourselves conscious as a society.

The continued relevance of aged music is one of the many signals we need to push us into realizing that although times have supposedly changed, they have not changed enough.

Instead of focusing on the degrading, sexually centered rap music ever present today, we must remember that rap music’s original purpose was to tell a greater story, discussing issues that society sometimes feels to censor out.

Even, today, amidst the sexually centered artists, we are still fortunate enough to have artists like Kendrick Lamar who, much like the artists of the 90’s, choose to address broader political issues. We must not perceive such progressive and so-called in your face rap as offensive or aggressive, and instead treat it as the necessary exposure of issues that have been sugar coated over several decades.

The sooner we stop sugarcoating, the faster we start changing.

The next time you find yourself dancing to songs like “Juicy” from this era, let yourself be reminded of the similar struggle that people of a low socioeconomic status have to deal with, even today.

Let yourself be reminded why artists during the 90’s have been deemed some of the most influential rappers ever. And, finally, let these reminders inspire you to do something for your community that would push it to a refined state of consciousness, and do it.