it's a particular 16th note

Every pop music genre has a signature sound. This is acoustic branding. It's vital for pop-music to function that the audience can determine in a fraction of a second what brand is being offered. Nothing deep going on.

   I hear it as an incredibly dynamic 
   and forward-looking genre.

What dynamic and forward-looking about 3 decades of "where da hoes at where da bitches at"?

Yes, that 70's disco sound. That's gone; Like a snake 'Disco' has shed its skin. My point is that the essence of disco is pretty much alive. Take that to the contrast that the innovative essence of hiphop is resampling - that's pretty dead. Can you name any currently successful hip hop band that does radical resampling over all genres? It's not possible because of music industry lobbying.

> Take that to the contrast that the innovative essence of hiphop is resampling

Resampling isn't particularly innovative as Im sure you aware of musique concrete and tape music. Hip-hop is essentially defined by the combination of rapping, sociopolitical subtexts, and, yes, specific music production techniques that include sampling but also certain types of rhythms and beats. Those are roughly in order of importance; notice how few people openly lament the death of sampling but the prominence of a white rapper will prompt endless critical and popular commentary.

> that's pretty dead.

Anyone who can listen to To Pimp a Butterfly and believe that hip hop is dead does not know what hip hop is.

> Can you name any currently successful hip hop band that does radical resampling over all genres?

When has this been the criterion for what makes a hip hop band?

House music is 'just' disco played on an 808. Or that's how it started anyway.