As far as the Cool Kids breaking up I doubt it, Mikey probably just more marketable plus I remember them saying that they didn't want a deal as a group or something like that. I see this as a good move Curren$y does a lot of touring and that could help Mikey out plus Mikey nice with the rhymes too.
Content, the ability to tell a good story, and good wordplay is what I look for, I could care less about punchlines, metaphors, entendres, etc. even though it takes skill in all four areas to be a superb lyricist imo.
Mannie Fresh a GOAT producer, held down a whole team of rappers with his production and made multi-platinum hits. Not to mention birthed producers such as Zaytoven, Shawty Redd, Lex Luger imo.