...except punk never really grabbed me...

++++++++++++++

You may not have grasped the concept:

"One of its main tenets was a rejection of mainstream, corporate mass culture"


"An attitude common in the punk subculture is the opposition to selling out, which refers to abandoning of one's values and/or a change in musical style toward pop and embracing anything in mainstream capitalist culture or more radio-friendly rock in exchange for wealth, status, or power."

"The do it yourself (DIY) ideal is common in the punk scene, especially in terms of music recording and distribution, concert promotion, and photocopying magazines, posters and flyers."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_ideologies

++++++++++++++

It gave solace to a generation, the same as any new scene, (including Rap), especially before the inevitable corporate takeover.