I think that relatability is part of what put me off UK Hip Hop back in the days when it wouldn't been the cultural conservatism that did it. (And it just being a bit crap generally.)
As you say, there's a lure in it becoming more accessible (it could be me) but there's also a loss of glamour, which is definitely a big part of the appeal of rap music for a suburbanite limey like me.
There was a deliberate, conspicuous lack of glamour in UKHH of the sort we're discussing. It was depressing, in the same way as kitchen sink drama is depressing.
Interesting how somebody brought up mike skinner, cos I actually did like the streets a lot more. For one thing it wasn't copying superior American music, but it was also actually more relatable lyrically than Jehst e.g.
I think there is something about that mid 90s new york sound - samples of melancholy pianos etc. - that 'fits' with life in Britain, where the sky is always grey, it's always raining, everything's a bit depressing. Unfortunately that makes for a mopey sort of sound. Grumpy white men.