The argument against Napster forwarded by those like Kvidra essentially forwards this idea. But much of the best music in hip-hop operates beyond the limitations of its marketability, and the last thing record companies want is the general public to understand this subtle, but very real dynamic of good music and the people who produce it. But that's the real power of the creative musicians. So creative music can flourish in the next century. The record industry doesn't like that, because they know that the musician has decided to think for himself.
True musicians understand that in a very tangible sense, music affects people.
Call it karma or new agey if you must, but its true. Although I'd love to get paid large amounts of money to make beats, to reduce making music to that dynamic tremendously reduces the activity. If artists brainstorm long enough, someone will figure out to support the habit of inspiring people and owning what you produce and having the means to create an ever-increasing audience are certainly initial steps. Instead, discussion about hip-hop is often framed within its relevance as popular music and not its cultural vision. However, such vision and the diversity it represents is, in fact, one of the strengths of hip-hop and the aspect that will allow it to survive long after Lil Kim's assets begin to sag.