I grew up listening to classic rock, rock, metal and yes, rap. Rap was more my teenage years (14-18). I can attest that music is influential and suggestive to younger listeners (though the industry and media will say otherwise: "oh, it's just entertainment" or "it's the parents responsibility" as if they somehow can keep a watch over their children 24/7).
I grew out of it early on and sold all my CD's. I cannot understand why i listened to it in the first place. The whole culture surrounding it is harmful and backwards, IMO, and has done nothing but bad in terms of progressing music and providing younger generations with constructive ideas. There are the rare exceptions. What's hilarious though is a rapper who comes out with a single that portrays rap in a "positive" light, or has a positive message, but the other 14 songs on his album is about hustling, pimping, drug dealing, sex (in a crude way, usually) or violence.