Most of hip-hop is pretty much both, but not all of it's meaningless.

some is really good and thought about while some are just meaningless

Depends on what you're listening to, but elegant language, to me, is a great way for elitist to close their minds to the beauty of various vernaculars.

Poetry isn't defined by the clear level in verbal education that the writer seems to have; it's defined by the expression the artist is making through simple words on a piece of paper. People can criticize hip-hop all they want, especially when they only cite pop-artists (yet the hipsters that hate Lil' Wayne will worship Macklemore just because he made a song about gay marriage), but there is much genius to be found in the artists that create hip-hip (production and/or lyrics). I will even say that while Macklemore is a terrible lyricist, Ryan Lewis is a pretty catchy producer. Eminem and Dr. Dre are both geniuses and pretty much changed hip-hop and rap. Eminem doesn't try to impress us with big words; in fact, he doesn't give a shit about impressing us. He expresses himself and is almost non-stop in what he provides. Dr. Dre has the ability to turn a rapper into a hip-hop artist by providing the perfect beats for these guys.

And then you have Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator whom turn their entire albums into a work of art.

Immortal Technique and Dead Prez have highly politicized lyrics and go after the system they see as corrupt and immoral.

Then again, the value I see in much of Hip-hop today (not even going to touch old school stuff) is the ability of self-expression through a creative channel. Now, I don't want people to confuse my appreciate of Ryan Lewis's catchy productions with some kind of appreciate for Macklemore's terrible pandering to the progressive, impressionable youth. I feel that Macklemore is an example of the pop music that really crushes actual political or pro-civil rights rap that has been ahead on these issues for so long. Pro-gay rap artists have been talking about the anti-gay culture that is in this country for a while and have actually been expressing their right o personal liberty, and then Macklemore comes out with a song basically saying "yo, legalize gay marriage, and fuck hip-hop and black people for being so homophobic" while making millions of dollars like an asshole. He's basically the Michael Moore of hip-hop. But don't let Macklemore deter you from political hip-hop, because there IS hip-hop, good hip-hop, that came out years earlier that has expressed something much more complex than simply saying "lol, gay marriage guyz" here and here.

Sorry about the rant.

Hip-Hop is good. It is not bad. The older generation always puts down what the younger generation likes.