As a metaller at the the time, I quite liked the earlier stuff,Like Tone Loc, and Run DMC, because they tended to rap over rock loops/tracks. This before an established career path leading to clothes lines and acting roles.
What i've never understood about the development of 'Gangsta' rap is the juxtaposition of violent/sweary lyrics, over laid back, mellow music. Public Enemy had brutal lyrics with backing music to match, which made more sense to me. But it's not my scene, so maybe I'm not supposed to understand it.