My thought on John's comment is that there are all sorts of ways to get a hit pop SONG, and compelling verse is just one of them (and not the best one). For a song, it is better to have a catchy hook or a singer with a great voice than great lyrics. Some songs do have great lyrics, of course, but because they aren't essential many songs do not.
Rap is different in the sense that, like poetry, it has to be about the words.
My thought on John's comment is that there are all sorts of ways to get a hit pop SONG, and compelling verse is just one of them (and not the best one). For a song, it is better to have a catchy hook or a singer with a great voice than great lyrics. Some songs do have great lyrics, of course, but because they aren't essential many songs do not.
Rap is different in the sense that, like poetry, it has to be about the words.