Dead Prez is EXTREMELY afrocentric group

Yeah... after diving into some Dead Prez to hear what was beyond "Hip-hop" that was immediately apparent, which is no problem... but being myself, listening to it in my car with the windows down I found that if someone rolled up on me they would likely be quite confused if they heard the music. I recognize Dead Prez as being a talented group, but I think it's odd for me to do something like listen to them in my car, just nodding my head to a lot of lyrics denouncing my race (not that there's a lack of reason for them to do so)... it confuses me really and I'm sure many others would be confused. I doubt I'm gonna catch you listening to something of a reciprocating message in your car.

But a white person can’t be in a minstrel unless they wear blackface.

I think you proved that they can be with your Eminem, Beastie Boys example - though you do have to be special somehow... but every artist should be special in their own ways, or else you're listening to the same stuff from many people. To add to that, it's not like all black rappers are accepted and successful either. There's TONS of people attempting to be successful rappers right now, so it's not easier for anybody.

But there is nothing about being middle class and suburban that interests anyone ever.

Not to me. You can listen to any of those dudes and throw in an Atmosphere and KMK albums and you're pretty set. But if that's the case... being that so many fans are white, middle class... they don't want to hear about what they're familiar with. How come lower class black people don't want to hear these middle class white dudes? It's "different" subject matter right? But it's probably corny to them. To many people the appeal of these black dudes that talk about sellin hard, mids, blow, and all the glocks is the same fantastic joy that one might get out of a good gangster or fictional movie - it's often exaggerated and exciting, which is fine and doing a good job of entertaining.