I think the author misses the point a bit. While I understand the author's issue with "self-hating" african-americans, I think the onus for this problem should be put on the white media that is trying to do with hip-hop what they did to Jazz and Rock 'n' Roll. Rather than attacking one of the symptons, attack the sickness. You can say black people need to stand up for their contributions, but before that one must address the white washing that goes on, not only with music, but with history.

As for the Beastie Boys, by the time they came up, the roots of hip-hop were firmly planted. I would say that they are a seminal hip-hop group but not necessarily that influential. I think they were more influential for those rap-rock groups. I mean, how many hip hop acts today sound like the Beasties?