For those who have lost track, Hip Hop culture not only sells but is in incredible demand by corporate marketing sharks. Say what you want about the quality of music being released, when you’re getting paid for putting out crappy records, why take the time to produce good ones? Everyone from Jay-z to 50 cent, Lil Wayne to Soulja Boy have been focused on personal brand monetizing…that is creating an image that sells. But to whom do these capitalists owe their fortune?

Social Media Guru and the host of Wine Library TV, Gary Veynerchuck has examined the current power equity that Hip Hop currently has in Corporate America. As he points out the fertile marketing climate upon which today’s stars are building their fortunes was made possible by LL Cool J‘s, the Run DMC‘s and Beastie Boys of the 1980′s.

As he so accurately points out, today’s decision makers were all influenced by Hip Hop’s Emergence in the mid 80′s whether it be in the board rooms on Madison Avenue, the exchanges on Wall Street, The runways in Bryant Park or Boutiques on 5th Avenue. Though some if not most may not have been fans of the music, as burgeoning business minds they couldn’t deny the sex appeal of its marketing potential.

However Hip Hop would have to wait some 20 years before it would be see her big pay day. Veynerchuck suggest today’s new social media and web 2.0 movements harken back to those early days in Hip Hop. He believes that Hip Hop’s blueprint for success while requiring patience is an accurate forecast of greener pastures ahead for the Tech savvy and web 2.0 serving business of the future. We need only wait 10 or so years until the teens who currently adore the movement are old enough to assume the decision making corner offices.

While I think the theory is strong and worthy of some kudos I would caution one thing. To completely embrace Veynerchuck’s philosophy would be to completely devalue the wants and needs of the consumer. Veynerchuck’s theory rests heavily on the belief that it is the suits and decision makers that determine what’s hot and disseminate that to pop culture and not the other way around. I’m not totally sold on that idea. Thoughts?