Help/Advise on monitors since..

[mildtwist]

i bought a m-audio 2496 and upgraded my ram and hard disk..i started a thread at the computer section..and so..i got other things to buy that need not need much advise on..but on monitors..totally lost..currently im making sort of hiphop and R&B music..so..what monitors should i get? my budget is a decent one..around $200 or so for a pair? and btw what is active and passive monitor speakers? which one should i get? and my soundcard has rca inputs and outputs..so again..i like a direct assess to it?

thankx people who replied to my thread..

 

[blueprintstudios]

monitors, to me, get a shit and cheap but good enough one or a kickass one.
active = don't need power amp
passive = need power amp

the rest of the question I can't really answer cos I don't have monitor speakers myself before..

cheers
10¢ worth