HIP-HOP TO CELEBRATE ITS SURVIVAL AGAINST ODDS.(MAIN)

As rap continues to flourish in its third decade, becoming more mainstream each day, some of hip-hop's influential players say its time to take a step back and examine its impact. "It's a chance to celebrate, to feel our power, and to decide basic things about the next step," said Russell Simmons, who organized this week's so-called Hip-Hop Summit in New York City. While hip-hop has experienced some of its biggest highs this …