Excellent post, Jim! Naturally, when someone mentions the blues, I hear more than just Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. I mean hell, if Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Hank Williams weren't singing blues, then I'm in the wrong spot in this conversation. The influence of blues is what makes American music American. And while Hip Hop and such may not have jack shit to do with the 12 bar blues format, to say they aren't influenced by the blues and the American music tradition leaves me puzzled...