Not that rap couldn’t use a softer side at times, even in the gangster 1990s, but pop music overall lacks the raw emotion of NWA’s tales from Compton, Public Enemy’s loud and powerful blasts at everything from the New York Post to Philadelphia’s 911 emergency system, to the group’s tag team effort with metal band Anthrax on “Bring The Noise,” which sounded more natural than any of the requisite ‘famous people’ cameos artists share across their singles and videos.

A world with trigger warnings and safe spaces needs nicer hip-hop, and it’s getting some of it. Macklemore, Drake and Lamar can still use a few bleeps before their songs hit the radio, but they are a far cry of 2 Live Crew’s X-rated lyrics and girls in thong bikinis adorning the covers of their records; NWA declaring war on the Los Angeles Police Department, or Public Enemy’s fast and furious beat, throwing samples at you faster than you can recognize them.

But the best music hasn’t been the nicest. Johnny Cash didn’t write about the nice cafeteria dining in Folsom Prison; Pete Townshend compared his guitar to a machine gun, not an accordion. The nice guys are having their time – whether it will be influential, or make an impact, it’s doubtful.