A little on my ideas of Rap

I figure an important aspect of defining the term "Rap" is to actually contextualize what I think rap is.  The reason that this defining becomes important is because, although I am researching the genre, my definition will still cause me to filter out certain artists and certain songs. 

Rap is, to me: 

1. Lyrics that have some type of connected meaning.  Although the rapper may not necessarily intend a specific, deeper meaning, all the lyrics usually flow from one to the next logically. 

2. The beat is usually very "bass" and it usually has more momentum.  Rap, I believe, is a genre meant to not only listen to but to dance and actually enjoy and thus the bass and rhythm become extremely important. 

3. I'll admit that I put rap more in the context of African-Americans rather than other races/ethnicities.  I don't do this purposely but I think that the dominant purveyors of the genre have been African Americans. 

4.  Pretty much anything can be touched on in Rap.  It has a context that allows more than just one specific idea to come forth.