The role of violence in rap lyrics has evolved in the past decade.

Gangsta rap loomed large in the mid-'90s, during the height of the East Coast/West Coast rivalry between rappers. Threats and intimidation led to violence and killings, peaking when Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls were both gunned down in unsolved murders months apart.

Today violence in rap is more of the cartoon variety, sometimes literally, with 50 Cent talking tough but making appearances on The Simpsons and starring in The Dance with Nicolas Cage. Snoop Dogg, once one of the most feared names in America, appeared as Huggy Bear in Starsky and Hutch and Captain Mack in Soul Plane. He still has legal issues, but of late they are mostly with airport sercurity.

You can still find violent rap lyrics, but rappers nowadays focus more on money and sex.

"It's very materialistic these days. Go in the bar, drink the most expensive drink, wear the most expensive clothes, show the most expensive diamonds and party and girls, girls, girls, girls," said promoter Francois Baptiste.

The biggest recent hip-hop hits have been more lightweight: My Humps by Black Eyed Peas, Grillz from Nelly, Golddigger from Kanye West, Unpredictable from Jamie Foxx.

And rap always has had an artistic side, no matter what detractors say. Public Enemy's Don't Believe the Hype (1988) sounded an early warning about media excess. Ice T was vilified for the Home Invasion album in 1993 (his label, Warner Brothers, dropped him) at the same time he was doing songs such as That's How I'm Livin', a raw piece a year after the Rodney King riots looking at the conditions that spawn violence and despair.

And less than a week ago, Lucacris' Runaway Love, a tender piece reaching out to young girls in abusive families, was a highlight of the Grammy Awards cermony. The album it's from, Release Therapy, won best rap album of 2006.

Smile fo' me daddy

Let me see ya grill

Ye, ya grill ye, ye, ya grill

(Rob da jewellery store and tell em make me a grill she said)

Grillz lyrics, Nelly