The bottom line is that most black youths these days have no appreciation for hip-hop culture. It's a fact. Period. I don't know why, I don't know how. I suspect it has to do with the appeal of the "gangsta" lifestyle and the propaganda of the industry, pushing it as though it were desirable. I mean, BET won't play Little Brother or Black Star because it's "too intelligent" for their target audience. I don't see why they wouldn't do that either. It's like the NBA. A team game may be a better product and in the long run be better for the association, but stars put the people in the seats. Flash and flare is what it's all about. The industry mesmerizes people, particularly blacks, with jewelry, cuss words, chauvanism, and catchy beats.
With that being said, I don't know why white fans weren't affected to the same degree. I don't. Maybe it's from the influences from the circumstances of the general populations--habitat, socioeconomic standing, education levels. I don't know. Obviously some have fallen for the bastardized product that was once recognized as "hip-hop," but not nearly as many (at least in relative terms).
"One chick told me all she listened to was beats, thank God for 9th" - Phonte of Little Brother
There's a lot of truth to that.