I think I know rap music when I hear it. I just want to know where the line is crossed and rap becomes hip hop, or the reverse happens.

Also how rigid is the definition? Can a rapper release a hip hop record and how would I tell that it wasn't meant to be a rap record? Is it offensive to hip hoppers if I mistake their music for rap?

There has got to be an XPT poster who has a handle on the way this works. Thanks in advance.