I think you're listening to the wrong rap then. Rap used to be all about the lyrics and ability to make the listener visualize their words (to a good beat too obviously), and there's still several good artists new and old out who do that. Kid cudi, aesop rock, count bass d, etc
Also hating artists who are popular/mainstream just because their mainstream is ridiculous and is on par with goth/emo kids in high schools who are goth/emo because they do not want to "conform to cliques" and by doing so they conform to cliques. I like big artists and small artists, bob dylan, old crow medicine show, deadmau5, bassnectar, tiesto, three 6 mafia, dr dre, townes van zandt, immortal technique (most dark rapper i've heard IMO)
Music is music, the music matters, why does it matter how many people like them? If it sounds good rock it, if not listen to something else, thats what really matters