about capitolism affecting the "art form" if this were true about every genre of music when clearly it isn't.

i hear what you're saying but at the bare root of it you have a community/generation full of folks who are just dead set on making $$$ and lots of it. this isn't because we are being tugged by our puppet strings, its just the mentallity that is in our communuties and we are seeing it played out in hip hop...with that being said, there is nothing wrong with corporations taking note of this and capitolizing off of it. hell, didn't jessse jackson try and sue toyota a few years ago for corporations NOT trying to market towards african americans?