Hip Hop for Sale?

Check out this article from the NY Times, In Hip-Hop, Making Name-Dropping Pay

I don't know how I feel about this situation. I mean, I feel the whole notion of artists getting paid if they're basically advertise a particular brand anyway- but shouldn't the lyrics come first, instead of the money?

I guess it goes back to a classic argument of being about the art or being about the money. But at the end of the day if you have no money you ain't eating, no matter how good your art is.

I just don't think corporate brands should be influencing artists' music.